Pots and Pins

Quilt Group Friday...

I was awakened this morning by the mister, standing in front of our bedroom window, saying, "Time to stick a sign in the yard!  We've got waterfront property again!" 

If only we could sell our house, get it inspected, close the deal and have the ink dry in 48 hours... then we'd be RICH!!!  Or at least on the other side of poor!  IF only!!!  We've had torrential rain, sleet, hail and even snow in the last two days and more is on the way.  This is nothing new for us, it's winter in the Northwest, from now until July 5th it's going to be cold and rainy!  And our waterfront property comes and goes...if only it would stay!

 So while it's been rainy and cold outside, it was warm and cozy at our Quilt Group meeting - just looking at the quilts warmed us up!

It was Kareena's month to receive blocks and she made it very easy for us by not only supplying us with the pattern but with the fabric as well.  Her fabric is actually leftover from a quilt Lori made - she lets nothing go to waste! There will be white strips in between every block - this is going to be a very sweet, old-fashioned-looking quilt - the kind we all love!

This is Ardith's very first circle Quilt!  (No one can stop at just ONE circle quilt!) And it's huge!  I think she said it will go on a Queen-size bed.  This picture doesn't do it justice, it's much prettier in person.  Ardith used the blue French toile I brought back from Paris for her on the back - it's so pretty!  Happy leap-year birthday to Ardith, who turns a sweet 16 today!

Denise brought in this adorable green, yellow and white baby quilt that she made for her niece.  I love the simplicity of this quilt - big blocks of color with the pinwheels - it's the perfect baby quilt if you ask me and it was the perfect size, maybe 40-inches square - something like that.  I loved it!  I also loved her halloween mini-quilt which she paper pieced - so all of the pieces are perfectly matched! 

Lori made this beautiful circle quilt for her son and daughter-in-law as a wedding present...they've been married two years - so I think it's great that they're getting it SO SOON!!  The Girl is still waiting for her wedding quilt!  I love circle quilts - they're kind of addicting as our group has discovered!

The beauty of a panel quilt is that you just slap on some batting and backing and you're done...but not so with this one!  Marsha fussy cut the blocks from a panel - then pieced this top - so she saved herself no time at all!  Marsha made this for her new grandson Oliver...it's as cute as he is.  Oh, notice the small border, it's "ticket" fabric!

 

 

 

The hand-stiched blocks above were all made by Terry - all different, all adorable.  She showed them to us and then she put down some of the gift blocks we made as a group and my first thought was, "OH NO!  THOSE DON'T GO!"  But how wrong I was!!  I should never doubt Terry...she has an eye for these kind of things...so we put all of the blocks down on the floor and mixed them around and this will give you an idea of what she's going to make:

Fabulous, no?  She'll have some filler blocks and strips in between - it's going to be a wonderful quilt - wools and cottons and 100% beautiful!  Don't you just love her "elf?"  And the trees?  And the big red and green toile block next to the elf?!?  This is going to be a magical quilt!

Claudia started this quilt a while back - then for some reason she put it aside.  We all loved the big blocks that show off her funky/fun fabric! - and the quilting on it is amazing - Claudia is a great long-arm-er!

Claudia called this quilt "Cog Wheels" - a simple pattern that is striking with the touch of black.  All three of Claudia's quilt are quite large - that's the advantage of having a long-arm machine in your house or paying someone to quilt them on one - you can make big quilts! 

Two words come to mind - bold and beautiful - this quilt is brighter in person, my camera just didn't capture the true pink-ness of it all...it's just pretty.  Claudia is a huge Kaffe fan, like many of us, and while this quilt may look simple, big bordered blocks...look at the sashing...all those little triangles that can stretch!  

Here's a close-up - fun bright and happy fabrics, and it's quilted so beautifully.  This one had us all oohing and aahing...nice job, Claudia!

Helen made this sweet baby quilt - look closely and you'll be able to see the black and white-stripped small border that she put in to give this a little pop - it makes this go from sugar-rush to Parisian-Fresh...if you know what I mean.  Helen took some of the scraps from her baby quilt and has begun working on this Dresden block...I don't remember if she said this was going to be a block that will have others to follow or if it was going to be a pillow - either way it's dang cute!

That's it...except for one quilt that I didn't post because it's a surprise for someone - it's fabulous so hopefully I can post it next month! 

Salted Caramel Rice Krispies Treats...

Once a year, whether I like it or not, I watch a few dozen laps of the Daytona 500.  The mister makes sure of it. If you've never seen a 500 mile race, this is how it goes:  Driver gets in car, pushes gas pedal, turns left over and over and over, and either wrecks or crosses finish line.  This year the Daytona, cancelled due to rain, was moved from Sunday to Monday, all fine and good except that by 8:00 P.M. PST the Daytona was still on FOX...which meant I could not watch HOUSE!  (It's the only show on TV that I publicly admit to caring about.)  I was irritated...the mister was thrilled.  He waltzed in late, pleaded the fifth (it was more like a gallon), fixed himself a plate, parked his arse in front of the TV and instantly became an expert on Daytona...drafting, bumping, braking, the backstretch...blah, blah, blah.  But wait, there's more!  Danica, Jimmy, Junior, Busch...he began spouting info like jet fuel after a crash, enough to flood a landfill...like the one between my ears.  Look, I get it, it's a big race with big money, big egos, big fans, it's a big to-do...but seriously, left turns were more important than HOUSE?!?!?

  

 

 

 

Fortunately, I had these little beauties to help ease my pain...and wouldn't you know it, right before the race ended, my sugar coma began.   If you make these, remember to pace yourself...one bite per lap is not recommended.  Rice Krispies Treats, one of the four main food groups, has been a staple in our home since The Boy grew his first molar.  Crispy, chewy and sweet...an almost perfect treat which was elevated to perfection with the addition of a thick caramel and sprinkles of sea salt.  This one takes the Checkered Flag!

The sprinkle of salt on top of the caramel is just enough to make your taste buds stand up and take notice...and just enough to cut the sweetness long enough for you to take another bite or four.  Once the Rice Krispies Treats are made and set, according to the directions of the box, the caramel is poured on top - some of the Rice Krispies will float to the top of the caramel, making it so you have crunch on both sides!  After the caramel has set for just a few minutes the coarse sea salt is sprinkled on and voila, just like that this humble little treat we've all known and loved from childhood becomes a gourmet delight, worthy of being individually wrapped and given as gifts! 

Salted Caramel Rice Krispies Treats - Pots and Pins

(You could also add chocolate or butterscotch chips to the Rice Krispies Treats, or sprinkle chocolate chips on top of the hot caramel before sprinkling with salt...fancy them up all you want, they are dang good...five dangs on the ol' meter!!)

Rice Krispies Treats:

3 tablespoons butter

1 package (10 oz.) regular marshmallows or 4 cups of mini-marshmallows

*6 cups Rice Krispies

Caramel:

2 cups white sugar

1 1/2 cups corn syrup

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Coarse Sea Salt for sprinkling on top

Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish.  In a large pan, over medium-low heat, melt butter.  Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.  Pour in Rice Krispies and stir until evenly coated. Scoop Rice Krispies mixture into prepared baking dish and using a lightly buttered spatula or buttered fingers, press Rice Krispies down firmly into baking dish. 

Make Caramel:  In a large (mixture will bubble up so use a large pan!), heavy-bottomed pan, combine sugar, corn syrup, 1 cup of cream and butter.  Stirring often, bring to a boil, over medium heat, then pour in remaining cup of cream.  Heat, without stirring to 242 degrees (soft ball stage) or until a small abount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a firm but pliable ball when removed from water.  (Using a candy thermometer is a really good idea, but if you don't have one, make sure to do the cold water test and the "ball" needs to hold it's shape but still be pliable for the caramel to set up right.)  This will take about 20 minutes or so, watch so it doesn't boil over.  Remove from heat, stir in vanilla.  Immediately pour over Rice Krispies.  Some of the Rice Krispies will float to the top and some bubbles will appear, just pop with a fork.  Let caramel set for about 3 minutes then sprinkle with coarse sea salt.  Allow caramel to cool completely, then cut into bars, squares or however big or small you want.  I cut mine into 3-inch squares, wrapped them individually in waxed paper and tied them with a string, all in an attempt to make them harder for me to eat...didn't slow me down one bit!

*For your chocolate lovers out there, substitute Cocoa Krispies or make a batch that's half and half...dang good!

 

One year ago:  British Flap-Jacks

Two years ago:  Quilt Group Friday

Three years ago:  Cassoulet

Four years ago:  Baby Quilt #3

This, That and The Other...

 We're on Oscar Countdown...we've seen every movie but The Artist, but we'll tick that box later today...the Oscar Feast has been planned, ingredients purchased and phase one has been started...marinating.  The mister is not happy that we're leaving the manse to see a movie today, even though that's what we do EVERY Saturday...today, however, the new neighbors, who moved in from sunny California, have a team of locusts in their back yard...locusts with chain saws...and they are limbing up and removing trees, in an attempt to let more light into their home...if only it were that easy to get light up here!!  The mister is pacing back and forth, like a caged animal...I forbade him from getting his chain saw and going out there...as you may remember, the mister is a Serial Tree Killer...he LIVES to cut things down and he so desperately wants in on the fun!!   Maybe when they get ready to drop some big branches I'll let him out to catch them...

I know you're always wondering how it is I get so much done (as if) but today I'm going to let you in on my little secret...I wear Wonder Woman Socks...with capes!   My new pair came yesterday in the mail and I'm over-the-moon about them...the capes actually make me move faster...as in two stairs at a time!  I suggest you try some for yourself, you can get them here. 

 

Wow, blurry pic!!  Sorry!  These also came in the mail yesterday, my new  "People I Want To Punch In The Face" books...little black books with a real purpose - don't you just love 'em!  I already have one whole paged filled out!!  I found these on Pinterest and ordered several as I know I'm going to go through them pretty quickly!  You can order yourself some by clicking here.  Oh, only my pic is blurry, not the title on the books!

 

 

 

 

The Blackberry Farm Cookbook is my latest acquisition...even though I said I was never going to buy another cookbook, this one is so beautiful and the recipes look and sound so good that I could not help myself.  Williams Sonoma sells this, it's big, and is filled with picturesque scenes from Blackberry Farm, which is a very hoity-toity Southern destination/restaurant/inn for the Southern Living crowd, which means I'll never step foot in the place, but now I can at least make and eat the same food! Their Pineapple Upside Down Cake is going to be our Oscar night dessert...I'll let you know how it is!

The Girl gave me The Silver Spoon Cookbook for Christmas - I have used it many times already - it's one of the best cookbooks I've got...if you had to get on an ark and were only allowed to take one cookbook, this would be the one to take. It's that good.

Black-Eyed Pea Salad with Spicy Mustard Dressing...

For the last two months I have had to listen to the mister whine about not being served black-eyed peas on New Year's Day.  He attributes every bad thing that has come his way to this egregious error on my part.  He spills soup on his sweater..."If we'd eaten black-eyed peas like NORMAL people then this wouldn't have happened!"  He cuts himself while working in the yard..."Buying a can of black-eyed peas is cheaper than buying Band-aids!"  And on and on.  Of course he is half joking...half...but the other half of his demented little mind believes black-eyed peas bring good luck because they resemble coins and since the peas expand when cooked they are said to bring abundance.  Not being able to take one more day of the mister's "bad luck," I made this delicious salad to stifle him.  (As delicious as this salad is, it did not help me with my bad luck, but I suppose only a divorce court could do that!  Kidding...sort of...if only!) 

 

 

 

Black-eyed peas combined with butter beans, ham, celery, carrots and shallots make this a meal by itself...and the dressing...wow...Dijon mustard and fresh tarragon...elevating this simple Southern fixture/salad out of the diner and into a white-linen-world where champagne flutes clink over talk of money-making stocks!  Think Jimmy Choo meets Saddle Shoe...or The KarTrashians meet the Housewives of Butcher Holler...it's two worlds colliding in one delicious bite.

But wait!  There's more!!  This is also super healthy and good for you! 

Let's do the math:  Delicious + Healthy + the Chance of Abundance = One happy, albeit superstitious husband, which in turn = One happy wife. 

Do the math at your dinner table with this one - it's dang good!

Black-Eyed Pea Salad with Spicy Mustard Dressing - Adapted From Country Living, December 2011

2 cans (15 oz.) black-eyed peas, picked over and rinsed

1 can (15 oz.) butter beans, rinsed

2 cups diced ham

3 medium carrots, diced

3 large ribs celery, diced

1 small shallot, finely diced

1/4 cup chopped parsley

Dressing:

1/4 cup cider vinegar

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon leaves

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

In a large bowl combine black-eyed peas, butter beans, ham, carrots, celery, parsley and shallots.  In a small bowl combine dressing, whisking together until emulsified.  Pour dressing over salad; toss well to coat.  Serves 6 as a main dish, 8 as a side dish.

One year ago:  Turkey Tarragon Soup

Two years ago:  Sweet and Sour Chicken

Three years ago:  Sweet Potato Biscuits With Sloppy Joes

Four years ago:  Oscar Gumbo

 

Marsha's Flying Peppermint Pinwheel Quilt...

Marsha of Sunshine Marsha humbled me.  A while back she emailed and asked if it would be alright with me if she "copied" one of my quilts.  I nearly broke out in song.  I could not respond fast enough and tried desperately not to blather on about feeling honored, because she wasn't copying me personally, she was copying a quilt - but she might as well have said, "I think you're the most fantastic person on the planet and I want to be you," because that's how I felt!  Delusions have always been one of my strengths.  Pictured below is my red and white pinwheel quilt, the one Marsha liked: 

This quilt is one of my very favorites - and it's been loved into submission - meaning it's one of the softest quilts I own as it is used (and abused) constantly and it seems I'm always washing and drying it - but it just get better and better with use.

 

This is Marsha's quilt.  (She sent me a pic that had already been sized - wish I could have made it larger for you to see the details!)  Her workmanship is lovely - and if you click here, you can read more about her quilt. 

Marsha's Flying Peppermint Pinwheel Quilt is a bit larger than my quilt - hers measures 60 x 70-inches, making it the perfect size to wrap up in.

Thanks Marsha, you made my day!  I love your quilt and you for being inspired by something I made - to my knowledge that's never happened before!

Note to self:  I must get myself a clothesline to hang my quilts on...and a little blue sky in the background would be nice, too! 

Carrot and Ginger Sandwiches...and Slaw...

The mister likes to feed Caesar Beezer The Wonder Dog from the table (so do I but I am much  more discreet about it) and as he was giving Caesar yet another piece of fried fish, I told the mister that it wasn't good for the dog - it was too spicy, plus it was fried, and to please stop. Well!  The mister spun around in his chair, reminding me that I need to find an exorcist, and in a somewhat vile voice spewed, "If the food you feed me is too spicy for the dog then it's too spicy for me!  From now on if Caesar can't eat it then neither can I!"  I do not lie.  Let me point out the obvious...the mister wants to eat dog food.  I calmly stood up, walked to the cupboard, grabbed a pretty bowl, filled it with kibble, walked to the table, and with the speed of an eagle plucking it's fish from the water, switched out the mister's plate with the bowl full of kibble.  He was not amused.  But Caesar and I had ourselves a good laugh.

 

 

 

Last week, Gathering Fabric Quilt Shop held a Valentine Tea for it's customers...of which I was happily one.  I picked up a little sandwich and was just blown away by the flavor!  Carrot and ginger...bright, crunchy, fresh, with just enough zip to turn a finger sandwich into a gourmet event.  The lady who made the sandwiches said the recipe came from the Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC...from their High Tea menu.  I could hardly wait to get home and make more!  I found the recipe on-line, whipped up a batch and loved every bite...but for the second batch (!) I made a few changes...and in honor of the Empress, (fab hotel, fab city) I decided to eat my tea sandwiches at my afternoon pity party, but these sandwiches snapped me right out of myself and I had a right-regular tea party instead!

After finishing off the sandwiches (I did have some help from the boy) I could not stop thinking about the carrot-ginger mixture...and what a great slaw it would make...so back to the kitchen I flew.  After a bit of testing and tasting, I hit the perfect chord of sweetness to spice, cabbage to carrot.

 

 

 

This is possibly one of the best things I've ever made.  I love the crisp flavor, the subtle taste of the ginger, the crunch of the cabbage and carrots and the creaminess of the dressing...which made me instantly think how great the slaw would be on fish tacos or a shredded pork sandwich...yes, on, not next to!  Actually, the possibilities are endless!  But I went with fish tacos.  And adding the slaw TO the tacos was the best idea I'd had since putting a bowl of kibble in front of the mister.  Speaking of whom..since carrot-ginger slaw was not appropriate for Caesar Beezer The Wonder Dog, it was not appropriate for the mister...it was just too flavorful and too good...he was going to get the bland left-overs in the fridge.  But the mister walked in just as I was putting the slaw away and he grabbed a fork and took a bite...I waited for his histrionics, but to my surprise he said, "Wow, this is excellent!  Really good!  Why haven't you made this before?!"  Now do you see why I need an exorcist?!?!  From one minute to the next I never know who I'm going to "get!"

The Empress recipe called for "sweet ginger paste."  I couldn't find it anywhere, so I ended up purchasing Chopped Ginger, which comes in a jar, and is very paste-like - it worked perfectly.  You could also use fresh ginger, just grate/chop it really, really fine.  Both recipes are below - both are worth making and eating on a cold February day.

Carrot and Ginger Sandwiches - Adapted From The Empress Hotel, Victoria, BC

2 to 3 carrots, grated (about 1 cup)

2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 teaspoon sweet ginger paste, if you can find it, or finely chopped ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

4 tablespoons Mozzarella cheese, shredded

4 slices whole grain bread

In a medium bowlm whisk softened cream cheese until smooth.  Whisk in mayonnaise.  Add carrots,  ginger, salt and pepper and mix well.  Divide mixture in half, spreading half on one slice of bread and half on the other.  Top mixture on both slices of bread with shredded Mozzarella cheese.  Place remaining slices on top.  Carefully cut the crusts from each sandwich, which is optional, but if you're having these for tea it's mandatory!  Cut the sandwiches in half diagonally and then in half again, or cut them into strips, or you could get crazy and use cute cookie cutters!  Makes 2 whole sandwiches or 8 finger sandwiches.

Carrot and Ginger Slaw - Pots and Pins - Inspired by The Empress Hotel

1/2 head green cabbage, shredded

4 carrots, peeled and grated

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

3 tablespoons cream cheese, softened

3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 to 2 teaspoons ginger, chopped super fine

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

In a large bowl combine cabbage and carrots.  In a small bowl whisk softened cream cheese until smooth; whisk in mayonnaise until smooth.  Whisk in rice wine vinegar, vegetable oil, ginger, salt and pepper.  Toss to coat.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30  minutes to allow flavors to meld.  Serves 6.  Excellent on fish, fish tacos, pork sandwiches, or as a side.  

Flowers and Owls...

Another year, another wedding season - which is starting rather early!  My house smelled like a florist shop this weekend...hydrangeas (flown in from New Zealand as this is definitely NOT hydrangea season...why do brides always pick flowers that aren't in season?), beautiful roses and assorted greens - they made for some pretty sweet arrangements...eleven centerpieces, one bouquet, 3 boutonnieres - my kitchen went from one extreme to the other in a very fast 3 hours!

The MOG (Mother of the Groom) came to help - and we had a great time, except for the rose thorns, everything went swimmingly.

The roses, in the above arrangement, are not fully opened...but they were come "show" time.  We picked up the roses from the wholesaler on Wednesday, where they are kept in 45 degree coolers.  Once we got them home we cut their stems, put them in water and then they just hung out in my garage until Friday morning when they were put into the arrangements.  By Saturday morning they were perfect - open, flowy, flowery...just the way they're supposed to be - it takes three days.  Most roses get "worked" too soon, before they're open and then the day after the event they are gorgeous.  Just in case you ever need to work with roses - give them three days!

The MOG has a great eye for detail - she had me add these beautiful ribbons and jewels to each vase...it's all about the details!  (I think she got the little jewels at Michaels, they came in a package of 4 - and they're plastic!  They were inexpensive but they sure don't look it!)

Into the car - off to the event - which was held at The Seattle Tennis Club.  It was so lovely - even though it was a typical rainy, cloudy, stinkin' cold day!  Inside it was...

Elegant...the centerpieces were sent on top of a cloud of tulle which was sprinkled with rose petals and little mirrors that captured the light and made everything sparkle.   Like I said, the MOG has an eye for detail!  What you can't see out the window is a white-capped Lake Washington - the Tennis Club sits on the shore and in the summer it's beautful...I mean, on July 5th, because we really only have one day of summer up here!  Everything turned out great - DeRue, give yourself a pat on the back - you did a great job!  See how the roses are open?!? Three days! 

After the reception, I came home to finish the owls...

Sunday I had to teach a lesson on homemaking to 13, 14 and 15 year old girls.  I made an owl for each girl  and told them owls are great homemakers...they have excellent vision, excellent hearing, they can hunt, feed their young, enhance their nests and fly silently...I told them it was good to be an owl/homemaker...yes, it was a stretch and basically just a load of crappola, but they seemed to buy it!  And then I fed them frosted double chocolate truffle brownies and they were happy and it was all good.  And then I came home and collapsed.  Long weekend.  I was actually happy to have Monday roll around!

On Valentine's Day I went to Gathering Fabric in Woodinville, WA - it's a very, very wonderful quilt shop - and they were having a Valentine Tea (more about that in tomorrow's post - their sandwiches were fabulous!)  The Aussie and I spied these little owls and when we asked about them we were handed a free pattern...unfortunately the name of the person who drew the pattern is not on it!  So I can't tell you who did it and I can't thank them -   Lynn from Mandie and Me Designs made the pattern and you need to pop on over to her blog to see how stinkin' cute hers are!!  Thanks Lynn!  (If you want the pattern email me and I'll send it to you.)

Get yourself over to Gathering Fabric - tell Susan, the owner, that I sent you!  You will love how warm and wonderful her shop is - plus she has great fabric!  Happy Monday! 

Christmas Quilt

This is the first quilt that I've actually finished this year - as in quilted and bound!  It was pieced two years ago then left to age until it was ripe enough to finish.  That's better than saying I pieced a quilt top then let it sit on top of a pile while I procrastinated as long as I could! 

Here's how this one came about...I saw a quilt online that I absolutely loved, called Geese in the Forest by Anina at Twiddletails.com.  I really wanted to make this quilt - it spoke to me - I wasn't sure exactly what it said, but I purchased the pattern and set about collecting green fabrics.  I even talked my quilting friends into making this quilt with me - telling them it would be fun!  When they saw the pattern they all asked if I was crazy - all those million little pieces!!!  It was at that moment that I realized what the quilt said to me all those months before, "Fat Chance!"

  Sadly, the quilt and my friends were right...there was just no way I could make this quilt - my attention span is the same as gnat's.  I had a pile of green fabrics...and the Aussie, who had been on board, decided she would use the fabrics and make this quilt when she moved back to China.  (She has no idea how to put down roots!)  With the remaining green fabrics, my friends and I had ourselves a little sew day and we whipped up this simple quilt - which did help me feel better about all the money I'd spent on a quilt that I'd never make.  It is fabulous though, isn't it?!? 

Now, here's the best part...the Aussie went to China, which she pronounces Chiner, and sewed her little brains out!  Her Geese in the Forest quilt is almost done - and it's perfect!  And I'm extremely jealous!  As green with envy as those trees! 

 

 

 

 

I'm happy with this little quilt, but it's not Geese In The Forest...and dang it, I really want that quilt...looks like I'm going to have to bite the binding on this one and just get it done...one or two blocks a day...should have it finished by the time they wheel me into the home!

Anina of Twiddletails is my neighbor, she lives about 3 miles from me, as the geese fly, and I used to be in the same quilt group!  (She actually lives half way between me and the Aussie, who has now moved back from Chiner...surely that must mean something, like Anina or the Aussie should just give me their quilt...and when I'm done drooling on it I'll give it back, 'cause that's the kind of gal I am!)  When I purchased her pattern I didn't know it was her...small world!  She has a great blog, full of fun projects and ideas, and a store where you can purchase fabrics, and kits and all kinds of fun stuff!  Check it out!

Shaved Asparagus Salad with Cukes and Radishes...

I must say, I was just a tad disappointed when the mister walked in Valentine's night without a red plastic rose in his hands...for the last 15 years he has stopped on his way home from work at one of Seattle's finest gas stations to buy me a plastic rose...and not just any plastic rose, but one with fake water droplets!  Before Valentine's Day I proudly display them in a beautiful plastic vase.  So Tuesday night, after our feast, and after I opened my Valentine's card from the mister, which came with a candy bar (his idea of "chocolates"...and really, doesn't it just beg the question, what kind of person gives a diabetic a candy bar?!?!) and it also came with a gift card...because now the finest gas stations sell them, I said to the mister, "What, no plastic rose?!"  And he smirked then walked out of the room...he returned a few minutes later with a plastic rose in his teeth, which he dramatically removed and presented to me, "Here's your rose my lady!"  It was then my turn to smirk...and I said to the mister, "Must have been an expensive stop at the gas station...petrol, gift card, candy bar AND a rose!"  And the mister replied, "I just grabbed this from the vase downstairs, saved myself $2.50!"  His chest was bursting with pride.

 

 

 

 

This is one of my better creations...it's light and refreshing and tasty as all-get-out!  I love the asparagus in this salad - it's the "lettuce"...and it's the part of the asparagus that usually never gets eaten, the thick stalk.  Using a vegetable peeler, you shave that thick stalk into little ribbons of asparagus and when mixed with cucumber, radish, goat cheese and a fantastic dressing, it's addicting!

The salad dressing I used came from my friend, Patti Benjamin, who served it over fresh greens combined with fresh herbs - it, too, was addicting!  And I thought her sweet/tart dressing would be the perfect compliment to the peppery radish and the woodsy asparagus - turns out I was right!

Shaved Asparagus Salad with Cukes and Radishes - Pots and Pins and Patti Benjamin

5 radishes, sliced thin

1 English cucumber, sliced thin, peel left on

8 asparagus stems, shaved into thin ribbons/strips

1/4 cup goat cheese crumbles

Dressing:

5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

To make salad:  In salad bowl, combine, radish and cucumber slices with shaved asparagus stems; sprinkle goat cheese on top.  Make dressing by combining all of the dressing ingredients into a small bowl; whisk together until emulsified and sugar has dissolved.  Pour dressing over salad.  Toss to coat  and allow to sit for 15 minutes.  (Allowing the salad to sit in the dressing allows the vegetables to soften a bit, which I like, but this is a personal preference.  You can serve it immediately if you like.  Also, I took the time to cut the cukes and radishes into hearts, just because it was Valentine's day and because I thought it would be cute...however, I was the only one who noticed...but I did think it was very cute!)  Serves 4.     

Be My Valentine...

Big doin's going on around here today...we'll be having a Valentine's feast tonight, starting with a shot of roasted tomato soup, followed by a nice salad with spring greens, fresh herbs and thinly sliced English cukes and radishes (cut into heart shapes, of course!) and then the main dish...surf and turf...lobster tails ($5 each, thanks Safeway!) and filet mignon, both served with butter and a side of Oregon Blue Cheese sauce for the steak...risotto and a side of grilled asparagus, and then, to finish things off, we're going to have a very basic Strawberry shortcake...Angel food cake with macerated strawberries, whipped cream and a drizzle of passion fruit pulp.  Sounds good, right?  Well that's the plan;  The Boy will be acting as my sous chef as he is the one who INSISTED on having this meal...the mister offered to take us out for dinner...to The Dead Red Lobster with dessert to follow at Dairy Queen...yes, hard to pass on that...so we're staying home and hoping for the best...no recipes for today but if anything I have planned works I'll let you know!

Moving on...Thanks once again to Pinterest, I came across a cute idea for making a felt Valentine envelope.  The Crafting Chicks came up with this idea, and I think they show a no-sew version using glue.  I decided to sew mine and I whipped up several in a very short time - felt and ric-rac - very easy.  I will tell you, if you decide to make some, using the stiff felt is the way to go.  It holds the shape and is easy to sew on; if you use regular soft felt, you'll have a very cute but floppy envelope.

Thanks to my friend Stephanie for the very cute Cherubs on my envelopes!  A year ago Stephanie had been thrifting at her favorite place, Value Village, where she picked up a bag of miscellaneous Christmas ornaments and I was the lucky recipient.  In the bag were several plastic cupids... they are perfect on my little envelopes, no?

My new Valentine table runner made it's debut this morning...I like how it turned out.  It was also inspired from a Pottery Barn Kids Valentine runner from a few years back.  I wanted something that was mostly white so whatever I put on the runner would show better...

For example, I love my little heart runner, but it seemed to get lost on my big table...placing it on top of my new plain runner makes it look so much better!

 To make the runner I used two pieces of white fabric and batting, measuring 18 x 40 inches.  I hand drew the words with a water-soluble marker, then hand-embroidered them with two strands of floss. The runner is machine quilted with little hearts and the binding was sewn down by hand...have yet to see a machine binding that I like.  As for the little hearts...I sewed two hearts, right sides together, and then turned them right side out; I did not slip stitch the opening closed.  I used different colored red fabrics and then pinned them onto the runner where I wanted them.  I machine-stitched the hearts onto the runner, using a blanket stitch, going around each heart, closing all of the open seams.  

My only regret about this runner is that I didn't finish it sooner!  It's been rather hectic around here lately...too much work, not enough play...I think a self-intervention is in order...I'll let you know how it goes!  In the mean time...

Happy Valentine's Day to You!