Pots and Pins

Dandy Blend...The NEW Postum!

If you know what Postum is/was, then you're going to LOVE this!!!  I have discovered a NEW Postum!  Better than Pero and Inka, better than anything else out there...in fact, it's better than Postum itself!  Dandy Blend is an instant herbal beverage that tastes like instant coffee.  There's no caffeine, acidity or bitterness...it's gluten free...each cup contains 630 mg of dandelion/chickory extract...if you're not up to speed on dandelion, it's been used for centuries as a healing herb in Asia and Europe and is said to rid the body of toxins.  I'm all about removing toxins - whatever they are! 

IF you want an alternative to coffee, you must try Dandy Blend.  It makes a "darn fine cup of coffee" and iced coffee, too!  I ordered my box of Dandy Blend on-line but I'm told it's sold in some health food stores.  My box of 25 single-servings (it also comes by the pound) was $9.98, plus shipping.  I realize that talking about an alternative to coffee while living in Seattle is border-line blasphemy...but if you don't drink coffee but you like the taste of it, or if you used to drink Postum and are sad that it's gone...then you need to try Dandy Blend!! 

I was not paid to write this, I received nothing from Dandy Blend and had to buy it myself.  On this rainy, cold, gray morning (surprise! surprise!) I'm sipping a nice hot mug of Dandy Blend and feeling right as rain.

1 Man's Sweater = 1 Nice Bag...

I first spotted a sweater bag in France - women carrying them whilst strutting down the cobblestones teettering on high heels...students carrying them stuffed with books while scrambling for the bus or train - and I really wanted one!  So the mister and I went on a hunt...we started with the more fashionable shops, they laughed and ushered us out the door as fast as they could...a sweater-hobo-bag was not part of their inventory!  So then we went to the mall...nada...and even little boutiques that were desperate for business had nothing like them.  So where did they come from?!?  I have no idea!  Luckily I drew a sketch of one so I could remember it -I had to draw it because that was the day my camera battery died!  With the sketch on the wall in my workroom...staring at me for months now...I finally decided to make myself a bag...so off I went to Value Village where I found the perfect men's sweater!

The sweater is 70% wool and 30% acrylic, it's an XL and it was in good condition.  (Next time I might use a sweater that is 100% wool and felt it, which would give this a totally different look...but I really wanted the bag to look like a sweater so I went with a blend.)  After a good washing and drying, it was ready to cut into.  The bottom of the sweater becomes the top, sides are sewn, wrong sides together, and then turned right side out and resewn, making a French seam.  The bottom of the bag, where the neck used to be, is cut straight across and then another French seam is made.  I used a tight straight stitch and then went back over it with a zig-zag stitch.

 

 

 

The seams will be thick, so if you try this make sure you use a very strong needle, I broke one before I got the clue.

 

 

 

 

After the sweater sides and bottom (neck) have been sewn, all that's left is a strap.  I didn't have any black webbing on hand, only had hot pink, and I didn't think it would work...so I covered it with black cotton fabric.  (I didn't want to use the sweater leftovers for the strap because I didn't want the strap to stretch.)  The strap was sewn to the sides of the bag, and I added some bows to give it a little charm...good, no?

Love it?  I do...I love how it "closes in" on itself on top...but for a little added help I sewed two small black pieces of ribbon to the inside so it could be tied shut. 

Super easy project...and I'm thinking my fashionista-nieces might be getting these for Christmas...it's adorable, super soft and if they get cold they can always throw it over their heads! 

Cost of sweater:  $4.99.  Everything else came from my stash and here's the most important thing...it took less than ONE HOUR to make.  No lie.  Merry Christmas!

Mango-Coconut Chicken...

If the mister had his car windows down as he drove up the street he might have kept driving as the smell of curry was in the air!  He hates curry.  He hates Indian food.  He hates pretty much everything that I love.  But whatever, I'm not a short-order cook so he gets what he gets and he got Mango Chicken...Indian Mango Chicken.  He growled and grumbled like you wouldn't believe, and then refused to eat...but made of point of telling me just smelling curry is the same as breathing in 2nd hand smoke...and asked why I was always trying to kill him...seriously, can't you see the headline?!  Man dies from Curry Aroma!  As he was blathering about jet-propelled intestinal issues that could result from him actually eating curry, I grabbed a box of cereal and the milk and told him to have at it.  And he did.

 

 

 

Apna Bazaar, is a new little speciality grocery store that just opened down the street from us, they sell mostly food items from India.  It's fascinating!  I dragged the mister in with me a few days ago and we probably recognized about 10% of their products...so I've decided that I need to learn more about Indian food and what better way than to cook it at home?  This dish is my attempt at recreating a Mango Chicken dish I had at one of my favorite restaurants.  Next time I make this, and there will be a next time, I'll add more curry...and maybe I'll get the mister a gas mask so he won't feel like he's under attack!  But more curry could only make this better - which seems odd because it's dang good just as it is.  Ginger, onion, Mango puree (purchased at the speciality store), coconut milk, golden raisins, chicken and the curry...it's so flavorful and tasty, I ate my share and the mister's, too!  And since this recipe makes enough for 6 people, I took a container to friends who do not have curry issues - and they LOVED it!

This is so easy to make and since the chicken is cubed, it cooks faster, but you could leave it whole if you wanted to, just increase the cooking time.  The sauce is a heady-creamy mixture that is enhanced at the very end with fresh mango chunks...served over rice it's a party for your mouth.  Make this.   Make it today.  You will thank me.

Mango-Coconut Chicken - Pots and Pins

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 large onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced

2 tablespoons yellow curry powder (I only used 1 tablespoon but I think it could use another!)

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 can (32 oz.) Mango Tidbits (Desai-Amar brand, available at specialty Asian markets, you could substitute mango juice which is readily available in all grocery stores and add in some additional fresh mango chunks)

1 can (13.5 oz.) coconut milk

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 cup golden raisins

1 or 2 fresh mangoes, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

fresh Cilantro for garnish, optional

White or brown rice for serving

Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium heat.  Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions have just begun to soften, about 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and ginger and cook for another minute.  Add the curry powder and cumin, cook for a 2 more minutes, stirring.  Add Mango Tidbits and coconut milk and bring to a boil.  (If you're substituting with mango juice, add it now along with one fresh mango that has been chopped.)  Add chicken and raisins, bring back to a boil then cover pan with a lid and reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.  Add fresh mango (1 or 2 depending on how chunky you want this) to the pan and cook for two minutes, until it's heated through.  Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve over white or brown rice.  Garnish with cilantro.  Serves 6.

 

Ballerinas on the Brain...

This pretty pink ballerina tablecloth is being shipped out this morning...and I love how it turned out!  It's for a party somewhere in New York - and I'm wishing I could be there...in a pink tutu!  Kidding, that would ruin things for sure!

I took a break from making tablecloths - for a while there I had so many orders my head was spinning ala Linda Blair!  This was a fun one to do even though my head has not stopped spinning...wonder what that means?  If you're in the market for a custom party tablecloth and you can give me 4 to 5 weeks notice, shoot me an email!  Hope you have a perfect party Maria - thanks!

Tablecloth Pics...

Just a few pics of some of the tablecloths I've made...for your amusement...I made these tablecloths for different people, different parties...and everyone was pleased with the results - even me!

 

This cute cupcake tablecloth measured 55x55-inches and was perfect for a California cupcake party with 8 little girls! 

Trimmed with "prairie points" and bordered with jumbo rick-rack, this cloth has colorful machine-appliqued cupcakes with red button "cherries." 

 

 

 

It also looks great as a large table topper, don't you think? 

For a custom tablecloth I need about 3 weeks, and I invoice through Paypal so everything is easy and pretty darn quick!

 

 

 

 

 

This adorable little boy "blessing" party was created by Kara of Kara's Party Ideas.  It's really hard to see in these pictures but this tablecloth has a light blue piping around the top of the table and the hem of the cloth is a light blue and white stripe.

 

The fabric on top of the table is white with light blue dots - very sweet!  And little onesies were machine-appliqued on the front and sides of the tablecloth, which was made to fit a 6-foot by 3-foot table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every Super Hero party needs a Super Hero tablecloth!  This one, made with red cotton and blue piping, features a Superman, Batman and Captain America logo...plus the obligatory lightning bolts!

 

 

 

 

 

I'm sure you'll recognize this motley crew!  Big Bird, Elmo and Cookie Monster...all machine-appliqued.  The top of the cloth features Sesame Street fabric, which is available at JoAnns.  It also has yellow piping around the top of the table and a light blue and white stripped hem. 

 

 

Maybe you're not in the market for a tablecloth or maybe you don't want to spend what it costs?  How about a table runner instead?  This baseball runner was made for a 9 year olds birthday party.  It is machine quilted and has baseball fabric on both sides, one in red and one in blue plus instead of a tassle I sewed on little rubber baseballs!  Stinkin' cute, no?

 

I wish I had a larger picture to show you of this adorable cloth...it's all white but has a long ruffle all away around...perfect for the little Florida girl who was having a beach party!

 

 

 

Not a good photo of this cloth - sorry!  The tablecloth had not yet been pressed but I think you can see it was for a boy named Lukas!  He was turning one and his mom wanted something with his name on it - it also has blue piping and a blue hem...and since there isn't any date on this cloth they can use it year after year!

 

If you're interested in a custom tablecloth or runner, shoot me an email ([email protected]) and let's see if we can make it work!

Easter Parade...

Today is the 2nd day of Spring and we have SUN!  YEA!  For the first few weeks of March we had SNOW almost every day...of course, it didn't stick to the ground and melted as fast as it flew, but snow in March in Seattle...C R A Z Y ! ! 

I'm sure the rain clouds will be back by this afternoon but for now it's spring - finally - and Easter is on it's way and so that means it's time to drag out the Easter crappola...which I did because I'm nothing if not holidayphrenic...that's the new word for the day...if you are holidayphrenic then you cannot NOT decorate (double negatives are part of the syndrome) for any and all holidays...it's compulsive, and sub/un-conscious...and for those of us who suffer from it, we couldn't be happier that there's no cure!

 

 

 

 

 

The carrot rug is out, as is my Easter quilt and the mantel is properly adorned...I was feeling rather sad that I only had one Easter quilt...there's still time to remedy that before the Easter Bunny arrives, don't you think?!

 

 

 

 

 

The dining room table has my painted Emu eggs and my little Easter house is ready to be plugged in and lit up...and the kitchen table is picture perfect with my carrot runner and some fresh-picked daffodils that are just beginning to open...I love Spring!  So I'm all set for Easter...I just need my two little bunnies to come and share it with us...

Little Elsa - is she not the sweetest thing ever?!?!  I get to see her soon and I'm so excited!!  And my Max...the nicest boy on the planet...love that boy so much...hate that he lives so far away!

Max was just so tuckered - looks like he just dropped and passed out...I'm sure 5 minutes before he was jumping wildly on the bed!  I love that little face - he's so, so sweet...can't wait to see him!

Alas, Max and Elsa won't be coming for Easter - they'll be with the other grandparents...(I'm the REAL grandma!) so I suppose The Boy will be the only participant in our annual Easter Egg Hunt...I'll have to hide eggs with money in them to get him to play...I guess when you have to pay your kid it's probably time to stop...but whatever, I'm holidayphrenic and unable to stop!

 

 

My Favorite Find...

You know I love a good find...my house is full of crappola from garage/estate/sidewalk sales...old stuff speaks to me!  One of my favorite treasure-hunting trips was going to the annual Farm Chicks Show in Spokane, Washingon - a veritable fairground full of fabulous stuff!  This year's show promises to be just as fun - and bigger - so if you can, plan to be there - you won't be sorry!

If you have been to The Farm Chicks Show, then you know the brains behind it is Serena Thompson, who has more talent in her little finger than Bayer has Aspirin!  Serena also has a blog, which I read daily for a dose of inspiration and creativity...she has that in spades, too!  You must go read her post about the best TEN CENTS she ever spent...which turned into big $$$...that sort of thing never happens around here! 

Serena has so many irons in the fire, I never would have thought she'd add to the blaze - but she did!  She has a new website...so while you're surfing today, be sure to check out My Favorite Find, you'll want to bookmark it so you can stop in daily - it is a very fun site!

Who doesn't love a good find?!?  And isn't the best thing about a find sharing it?!?  Watching your friends turn green with envy because you are the proud owner of a spinning wheel with an attached pole lamp and lamp shade that could double as an umbrella or bomb shelter?!?  Yes, that was not one of my better finds, my friends still give me grief over it!! 

My questions are in black, Serena's answers are in blue:

1.  You have a family, you have a career (several it seems, you write, put on the Farm Chicks Show, have just launched a new business, etc.,) and you have extended family and friends, so how do you have the time to fit it all in?  How do you balance your life?

People ask me this all the time and I guess somehow it just works. I feel like I have a lot of hours in the day and am able to squeeze a lot in.  

I typically start my work day when the boys leave for school and then try and wrap things up before they come home.  And I try to keep anything Farm Chicks/work related in my office so that I don't see something that reminds me of work or pulls me away from what I'm doing at home.

2.  What motivates you in the morning?  What fires up your right brain and makes you want to create?  Is it something you see, something you taste, something you smell?  

I rely heavily on exercise.  I try to get my workouts done in early in the morning.  I can honestly feel the clouds lift off my brain when I have a good workout.

3.  If money is taken out of the picture, would you still do what you do?

I'm not sure about that.  If my business wasn't making money, that would mean people weren't enjoying what I do and there wouldn't be any value to the community. I think it'd be hard to carry on if what I did wasn't embraced.

4.  If someone were to walk in your shoes, what kind of shoes would they wear (running shoes?  high heels?) and would their feet be tired at the end of the day?  

haha. I wear many shoes! Lately, I've been loving flats, so your feet would feel pretty good!

5.  You have an entire day to yourself and a wallet bursting with cash...what do you do?  

Most days I'd head out to my favorite antiques shoppes, but some days I might want to go look for a cute dress.  But maybe it's just me.... whenever I have cash, it seems like I can't find anything I want to buy.  And then when I don't, I want everything I see.

6.  What would be the title of your life's story?  

Her Happy Life

7.  I personally don't believe in regrets, but there are a few things I'd like to do over...how 'bout you?  Anything you'd do over?  

I always say I wish I could start over with my children, to soak in the time more than ever before and to use the wisdom I've gained over the years as a parent. I think moms are that way.

8.   When your mind wanders, where does it go?  What is it you want to do next?

My mind is a very zig-zaggy place. I sort of remind myself of the crazy old lady we all encounter sometime in our life who is talking about something and then she veers off onto something else and so on.  I have a hard time turning my brain off.  As far as what I want to do next, Farm Chicks branding.  I've been working on a Farm Chicks product line off and on for what feels like an eternity.  I'm anxious to see that come to life.

9.  Do you shop at The Farm Chicks Show?  How could you not?!?

Yes! Some years more than others.  This year will be a doozy because we're in our new home and I have a lot things I want to find.

10.  On your next trip to Seattle, would you come for brunch?  Lunch?  Afternoon Tea?  Dinner?  Dessert?  

I'd love to do some sort of meet-up sometime in Seattle.  The logistics are always hard with my family, but it does sound fun!

There you have it!!  She sounds human, no?  I love Serena - in my next life I plan to be her!  And as you can surely attest, if need be, because you read it yourself...she'd "love to do some sort of meet-up sometime in Seattle."   Be still my heart.  If only.  Something to live for.  Gonna have to hold her to it!

Okay, now off you go - go visit Serena's My Favorite Find - it's WAY fun! 

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Happy Birthday

Mom

and Uncle Keith!

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How to Make Butter-Cream Frosting Smooth...

I just perfected this little tip so I thought I would pass it along...it's one of those why didn't I think of that before things.  I made a (two 10-inch layers) champagne cake with raspberry filling and vanilla butter-cream frosting (three times until I got it right!) for a friend's daughter's wedding and the Mother of the Bride (MOB) wanted the frosting to be smooth, like a fondant.  I recently read how you can use a paper towel to make butter-cream frosting smooth so I told the MOB I could do that - I'm not afraid of paper towels!  The Paper Towel Trick worked but I thought it was kind of a pain and it took forever plus bits of paper towel were left behind!  There had to be a simpler way!  And there is...

After the cake is assembled, a crumb coat (a very thin layer of frosting) is applied and then the cake is refrigerated for about 30 minutes, till it's nice and cold.  I frosted the cake as smoothly as I could with an off-set spatula, as you can see, it's not so smooth!

I used a small off-set spatula (it was easier to work with than a larger one), dipped it into very hot water for about 5 seconds, then dried it with a paper towel.  I quickly held the spatula lightly against the side of the cake and "ran it around" the sides.  Because the frosting was cold, the heat from the spatula didn't melt it, plus I didn't hold the spatula in one place - I kept it moving - ever so lightly!  I wasn't moving the frosting, I was just RE-moving the bumps and the warm spatula did all of the work!  Since you have to move quickly the cake was smooth in about a minute!  I re-dipped the spatula in hot water as needed, it worked beautifully.  And I didn't have to pick bits of paper toweling off the cake!  It helps to have a turn-table (a lazy susan) to turn the cake as you hold the spatula.

This is the finished result...smooth as a baby's bottom!  And I heard it was dang good, too!  I wasn't there so I didn't get to taste it...but I can tell you, in my humble opinion, butter-cream frosting is by far the best tasting frosting...fondant is disgusting and why anyone uses it is a mystery to me!  No one eats it - when wedding cake with fondant is served people scrape the fondant off and eat the cake...but now you can have fondant-smooth cake that tastes great!  Someone said the cake looked like a ladies hat...maybe...to which I replied, "Really?  Then I'll eat my hat!" 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These were some of the flowers I made (they matched the cake!) for the event...beautiful peonies, roses, hydrangea, gerbera daisies, wax flower, narcissus (smelled Heavenly!) and pieris japonica...but as pretty as the cake and flowers were, the bride stole the show and I wish her all the best!

P.S.  My FAVORITE Butter-Cream Frosting can be found here.

Catch-Up/Recap/Update...St. Paddy's Day Ideas...

What a week!  It's been a bit crazy around here - one thing after another, including a broken garage door and a dead dishwasher.  The mister tried to fix the dishwasher...had we called a repairman it probably could have been resuscitated but after the mister "fixed" it there is no hope.  Cha-Ching!  Cha-Ching!  This post is really for my mom, so she can see what I've been doing...which will in no way make up for the fact that I can't be there for her birthday! 

Baking a basketfull of Eiffel Tower cookies for my book club was one of my better moments last week - I loved the book, The Paris Wife, so much that I had to dust off my Eiffel Tower cookie cutter! 

This was the first cake I made last weekend, it's a champagne cake with raspberry filling and vanilla buttercream frosting...it tasted like a pancake, and nothing like the light and airy champagne cake I was trying to duplicate.  But as you can see, it didn't stop us from eating it.  The second cake was closer to what I was going for but by the time I finished cake #3 I had it down...it's for a friend's wedding so it has to be right!  Just so you know, IF you want to make a champagne cake (without using real champagne but essential oil instead) you'll need to use an entire dram of flavoring for two 10-inch cakes.

From cake to the Very Hungry Caterpillar...a special request tablecloth and table topper made for an upcoming birthday party...turned out really cute.   I also made some removable caterpillars for this set that can be stuck on the tablecloth or on a plate or the wall...I think they'll like this!

It's not too early to start planning your Leprechaun Trap!!  As everyone knows, the best chance we have of actually catching a Leprechaun, and thereby getting his pot of gold, is on St. Patrick's Day.  I gave the girls I teach their very own box of Lucky Charms Cereal, it attracts Leprechauns because it's magically delicious!  I also gave the girls instructions for how to catch a Leprechaun with a gold coin attached...and made them promise that if they succeeded in catching one that they would pay me 10%...it seemed fair. 

If you're planning a St. Paddy's Day feast - you might want to consider one of these recipes - they'll have you humming Danny Boy and wearin' green like you hailed from Blarney Castle itself!

Irish Beef and Barley Stew

Blarney Stone Soup

Irish Soda Bread

Corned Beef and Cabbage Rolls

Irish Orange Sponge Cake

Chicken Cacciatore...

The mister called on his way home from work to tell me the Seahawks are interested in Peyton Manning...along with a half dozen other teams...but why, you ask, would I care?  And why would the mister feel the need to report this late-breaking news?!?  I'm happy to decode his sub-text for you:  IF the Seahawks are even remotely interested in Manning, then the mister feels justified, obligated even, to purchase season tickets once again...never mind that he went to all of one game last year...never mind that the Seahawks stink...the fact that someone on the radio mentioned the Seahawks in the same breath as Manning, in March, is the same as me saying, "Sure my sweet man, go ahead and buy those season tickets, you'd be crazy not to!  And while you're at it, see if you can upgrade your seats to the more expensive section and be sure to pick up a few more sweatshirts and other football paraphernalia for game day!"   The day the Seahawks get No-neck-Manning or the day I say anything like that to the mister, will be the day you-know-what is frozen over...in the meantime, the mister will continue to build his case, one little radio comment at a time, until he convinces himself that the entire NFL season rests on his decision to purchase Seahawks season tickets.     

 

 

 

 

When the mister walked in the house he walked into a wall of aroma...peppers, onions, garlic...I was prepared for his snarl and his usual remark, "Can't a guy just get a piece of boiled chicken and some canned green beans?!"  His favorite meal...but I ignored him and pointed out the Pepto Bismol sitting at his place on the table.  I only make Chicken Cacciatore about once a year, even though I love it, because as you know, the mister hates flavor and spice - and this dish is full of both.  I gave the mister a choice of something else because of his delicate constitution but he was swept up by the aroma of this intoxicating dish, and after two solid swigs of Pepto, he dug in!

 

This recipe is a compilation of several recipes that I've adapted over the years.  I serve this over Fettucine noodles but it's good over any pasta or rice!

Chicken Cacciatore - Pots and Pins

1/2 cup olive oil, divided

2 red peppers, one thinly sliced, one finely diced

2 green peppers, one thinly sliced, one finely diced

1 large white onion, thinly sliced

2 celery stalks, finely diced

1 cup button mushrooms, sliced

1 tablespoon sugar

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce

1/2 cup white wine

3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley

1/4 cup, tightly packed, chopped fresh basil leaves

1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

1 teaspoon pepper, plus more to taste

1 teaspoon garlic powder

6 chicken breasts or 1 (3 lb.) chicken cut into pieces, rinsed and dried

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a large roasting pan or Dutch oven, coat chicken pieces with 1/4 cup of the olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder.  Roast the chicken for 45 minutes.  While chicken is roasting, make the sauce.

In a large skillet heat remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil over medium-high heat.  Add the peppers, onion, celery, mushrooms and stir until the vegetables just barely soften, about 5 minutes.  Stir in the sugar, garlic, tomato sauce, wine, parsley and basil and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.  Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste.  Remove from heat and cover with lid until chicken is finished.

After chicken has roasted for 45 minutes, remove from oven and pour vegetable mixture over chicken and bake for another 30 minutes.  Serve over buttered Fettucine noodles or your favorite pasta or over rice.  Serves 6.