Pots and Pins

September 11th...

Both the mister and I are news junkies...that is to say, we have to watch the news at least once, if not more, each day and preferably first thing in the morning and last thing at night.  We like to know what's going on in the world and especially in our neck of the woods.  Today, however, September 11th, I deliberately did not turn on the news.  I don't need to see the Twin Towers falling down, or the Pentagon on fire or the burned field in Pennsylvania or firemen erecting our flag on top of the ruins to remind me of what our country and we as Americans went through thirteen years ago.  My heart aches, as I know yours does, when I think about the events of 9/11, and the scenes from that day will forever be etched in my mind.  September 11th is now a day to remember, not just the horror, but the good that our country is and does and continues to do and not just for us, its citizens but for so many around the world. Today is also a day for action...a day to help someone, to reach out, to uplift, to show that we care.  It feels good to serve and today, of all days, who couldn't use a feel good moment?  I was a proud American on September 10th, 2001, and even more proud on September 11th, 2001, and every day since.   Just my two cents...

God Bless America

 

Kids Cooking Classes...

There are just a few spots left for my two-day, hands-on cooking classes for kids  - here's the particulars:

Classes at my house - Sammamish, Washington - (Just kids, ages 10 to 14, no parents - you drop off/you pick up)

Two days - Monday June 30 and Tuesday July 1st 

10:00 to 1:00 - Three hours each day, chocked full of info and food!

Cost is $100 for both days, which will include etiquette, table setting, making breakfast, lunch, dessert (and eating all of the above) and a lot of other things!  

My sous chef Katie and I are super excited - if you're interested shoot me an email:  [email protected]  Tick-Tock!  The class is almost full! 

 

American Hero Quilts Tea...

We usually cram a lot into our weekends but last weekend was one for the record books!  After our visit to the Christmas gift show in Seattle, we headed over the West Seattle bridge, past the docks (the ships in port made me think of the movie Captain Phillips, Tom Hanks is a shoe-in for the Oscar!) and the Vashon ferry.

 

 

Driving onto the ferry is always exciting, it's a mini-vacation on wheels and water!  Vashon Island is a short trip, about 20 minutes.  Roundtrip for car, driver and one passenger was $18.00...it used to be much, much cheaper!  It was a typical Seattle November day...gray skies with a chance of rain...but while on the ferry the sun tried to make an appearance, which means the weathermen up here would classify last Saturday as a "partly sunny" day!

 

I've posted many times over the years about American Hero Quilts (AHQ).  My quilt group has been lucky enough to be associated with this charity and it's founder, Sue Nebeker, for a long time.  Sue began making quilts for returning wounded soldiers and Marines back in 2002...and since then AHQ has given away over 14,000 quilts.  Just think about that, AHQ is not the only charity that gives quilts to our wounded warriers, there are many others, but AHQ has given over 14,000 by themselves!  It's quite a sobering thought.  Sue Nebeker and her merry band of quilters, who are from all over the country, have worked tirelessly to make sure everyone who is injured is wrapped in a red, white and blue quilt upon their return, with a label that says, "You are our Hero, Thank You!"  

The mister and I went to Vashon Island, to the VFW Hall, to give AHQ a check from our quilt group and a quilt top two of our members made.  The tea was lovely, beautiful china on each table and the most delicious looking and tasting food!  Around the room there were beautiful quilts on display and I'd like to show them to you!

Are you a long-arm quilter who could donate a bit a time?  Are you someone who wouldn't mind piecing a quilt top?  Do you have extra batting you know you'll never use?  Sue could use your help!  Dozens of women around the country work on the quilts - some piece, some machine quilt, some sew on bindings...it's takes a village of quilters to get one of these beauties ready!  How about joining Sue's village?  Details on how you can help are at the bottom of this post.

Sorry, this is a bit fuzzy!  Must have had too many crumpets!  Maybe you're not a quilter, maybe you can't thread a needle...you can still help!!  And Sue really needs our help!  It costs a small fortune to ship quilts around the country to be quilted...how about sending Sue a check for $10.00...that's how much it costs to send a quilt top to Alabama and $10.00 will cover the postage for a quilt to be sent to South Dakota to be bound.  $10.00 isn't a lot...if you live in Seattle it's 2 grande lattes for Pete's sake!!  Do me a favor, empty out your change jar and send Sue a check today...think of it as a way of showing thanks for all of those men and women who daily put their lives on the line for our freedoms.

 

Maybe the mister took this picture, surely I didn't!  What's that you say?  You don't want to write a check?  No problem, you can send AHQ $10 cash donation through PayPal!!  (Cash is needed to purchase fabric, backing and thread - all monies received go torwards the quilts, no one makes a penny from this!) and AHQ is a 501 (c)(3) charity so your donation is tax deductible...hurry and take advantage of that before the government gets rids of all deductions - you know that's coming!

There, that's better - nice and clear and what a beautiful quilt it is!  The statistics from the Iraq-Afghanistan war are staggering...for every soldier/Marine killed there are at least 6 extremely serious injuries and while our government talks about withdrawing troops that isn't likely to happen for a very long time.  Unfortunately, we still have men and women being injured, and this is one small way we can tell them we appreciate their sacrifice.  Supporting our troops is the American thing to do!  Buy one less can of cranberry sauce and donate $10...it's the right thing to do!

Maybe I should take up drinking?  My pictures would imply I already have - at least I'd have an excuse!  The quilts we saw at the VFW Hall were not just "best ones"...all of the quilts Sue receives are wonderful.  And the letters she receives from the recipients of these quilts are enough to make the cold-black-heart of an old Marine weep...as the mister did when he read one of those letters...miracles do happen - who knew he could cry?!?

 

Maybe I should issue a "squint advisory" because if you squint the pictures seem to come into focus!  I don't know how much money was raised at the AHQ Tea, but I do not it's not enough.  There was a good turnout at the Tea but a lot of people are just war-weary...they are tired of hearing about it, tired of helping.  That's why I'm writing about this today - Sue needs our help - she needs an influx of $$$ to keep AHQ going...If every one of my followers donated $10 - well, you know I can't do math but I'm smart enough to know that would be a HUGE amount of money!  Enough to keep AHQ in business for a long time!

 

 

American Hero Quilt Standards

Quilts should be made from 100% good quality cotton

 

Quilts should be approximately 63x87 inches.  We find that many of the soldiers need the extra length and width to keep warm.

 

The quilts should be red, white and blue fabric.

 

Backs should be 100% cotton and 10 inches larger on each side.  For example:  If the quilt top measures 63x87 inches, the back should be 73x97 inches.

 

Please don't use beige or white fabrics on the back.  Many of our injured soldiers have open wounds which can cause stains.

Binding should be cut 2 1/2 inches wide, at least 300 inches in length, and sewn diagonally rather than straight across.

Below is where you send your donation, and where you can call to get information on how you or your quilt group can help:

American Hero Quilts

6716 SW Maury Park Road

 

Vashon, WA 98070

 

phone: 206-463-5650

 

fax: 206-463-6105

 

email: [email protected]

 

57 Brisket...

We had some friends over for an early Independence Day celebration and once again I was gobsmacked by something the mister said!  He used to save his special words for working in the yard, or if he injured himself, or if I did something that he deemed stupid...he has quite a list of adjectives;  then he branched out and began letting the family hear whatever sprang from his lips, especially while driving, and now it seems no one is safe!  In front of our guests and their TWO DAUGHTERS, the mister let loose with some choice words...in front of KIDS!  I long ago resigned myself to the fact that I could not take him just anywhere...churches, libraries and meditation gardens have been off limits for quite some time (he would only be caught dead in a meditation garden but I had to include them just in case) ...but now, apparently, inviting unsuspecting and innocent children into our home is something I must police and restrict!!  The girls laughed - I'm sure they've seen grumpy old men portrayed on TV so seeing one in person was funny!  The girl's parents laughed, too, kind of a hysterical laughter as if to say, "OH MY HECK DID YOU REALLY JUST SAY THAT!?!?!?!"  The mister was punished and has been ordered to take a vow of silence around everyone living or dead.

 

 

 

 

No vows of silence would have stopped the raves this brisket received!  My mom gave me this recipe, said it was excellent...but when I read the list of ingredients I had my doubts...smoked paprika, Heinz 57 steak sauce, 1/2 cup of liquid smoke?!?  I should know by now that when mom says it's good, it's good...and it was!  When the brisket was done, after 8 hours of baking, Caesar Beezer The Wonder Dog was delirious from circling the kitchen in anticipation, and so was I.  I unwrapped the brisket and pulled off a little piece...and then it hit me...the spice...the heat...the sudden realization that no one will eat the brisket because it was TOO SPICY!!!  Six pounds of meat that no one would eat leaving me in defeat...it was more than a bad rhyme...with 15 minutes till "show" time I thought all was ruined - especially since I had foodies coming to dine!  But shut the front door!  When the smoke cleared from my head, I gave it another taste...and then another and another...turns out my first bite happened to be a piece of the brisket that was saturated in the rub...the following bites were one glorious beef fest from beginning to end!  Succulent, juicy, and immensely satisfying...that's all I can say...except for this...this brisket reaffirmed why I can never be a vegetarian...it was like meat chocolate...so good that I kept eating it even when I was full and even when I was stuffed and then I continued on past the point of no return all the way to:  death-com-four...having to unbutton the top button of my jeans!  

 If only we had Smelloputer!  Heinz 57 sauce is combined with Worcestershire and liquid smoke and that's what this brisket is braised in, along with it's own juices...this brisket was so flavorful that no BBQ sauce was needed - which was a first for me!  Naked brisket sandwiches...A.Mazing!

57 Brisket - Adapted from Carol Wagner, Brisket Aficianado

 1 brisket (6 lbs.), fat slightly trimmed

2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon ground dry mustard

1 tablespoon smoked paprika (regular paprika is okay)

1 tablespoon ground black pepper

1 bottle (10 oz.) Heinz 57 Steak Sauce

1/4 cup liquid smoke (mom's recipe calls for 1/2 cup)

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

aluminum foil

In a small bowl combine brown sugar, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, dry mustard, paprika and pepper.  Rub the mixture all over the brisket, both sides.  Put brisket in baking dish, fat side up and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. 

In the morning, take brisket from refrigerator.  Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a small bowl combine Heinz 57 Steak Sauce, liquid smoke and Worcestershire sauce.  Pour over brisket.  Cover baking dish with aluminum foil (I cover my entire dish, completely wrapping it tightly in foil.)  Bake in 300 degree oven for 7 to 8 hours.  Allow to sit for 15 minutes on counter before slicing.  Slice against the grain.  Serves 10 to 12.

 

 

 

The place was decorated up!  Flour stars lined the walkway, flags and banners flew - even in the rain!  I had hoped to have everyone outside on the deck for dinner but it was just TOO DANG COLD!!

 

 Along with the brisket we had baked corn on the cob, (leave it in the husks and bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes - tender, moist and sweet!)  We also had Potato Salad Sans Eggs, Edith's Slaw, deviled eggs,  Tomato Salad with Buttermilk-Basil Dressing and my 4th of July signature dish...Mini Cheesecakes with cherries on top!

We had a great feast - worthy of fireworks, too bad we didn't have any!  If you don't have your July 4th menu written in stone...give this brisket a try!

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LeRoy Neiman passed away last week and this week Nora Ephron died, and I just have to say something about them because I'm so saddened by their passings.   I have been inspired by their enormous talents for years.  Leroy Neiman's style was so unique, so different - I loved everything about the way he painted.  While most of his paintings featured famous sports athletes or sporting events, the colors and vibrancy of his work appealed to many, including those of us who can't walk and chew gum...it was fresh, relevant and I could never look at one of his paintings without smiling...to me, he painted happy.  I met him once, about 20 years ago in Boston...it was just in passing...I was crossing a street and looked up and saw him coming towards me...my heart skipped a beat!  When he was right in front of me I blurted out,  "I love your book!"  He must have thought I was a total idiot!!!  He's a PAINTER and I said I loved his BOOK!!  He asked me my name, we shook hands and he wished me well and off he went...I walked off shaking my head in disbelief that I had met one of my heroes...and that I said BOOK!!!  I have a coffee-table book of LeRoy Neiman's work and I have pawed through that book for years and years...to open that book is to go to my happy place.  So when I saw him I was reminded of my book - still, what an idiot!  I'll never be able to afford one of his paintings (especially now) but I still have that book...for me, it's the next best thing.  And Nora...how could anyone not just love Nora Ephron?!?  She gave us some of the best movies EVER...When Harry Met Sally , Sleepless in Seattle, Heartburn, You've Got Mail, and my favorite, Julie and Julia - just to name a few!  Nora was funny and smart and a gutsy writer - she had a voice and she used it!  I also loved how Nora wrote about life - the ugly, mundane and routine of daily existence would be turned to clever, witty and funny - oh so hysterically funny.  After reading something Nora had written or after seeing one of her movies I always felt better.  I didn't get to meet Nora, but if I had, I probably would have blurted out something stupid instead of saying what I would have loved to tell her...Thanks Nora! 

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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9/11 Flag Tribute...

It was pretty amazing and heart-breaking, to see the nearly 3,000 American Flags as carefully placed as  white crosses in a military cemetary - lined up for blocks and blocks - families walking between them, stopping to read the names on each flag - one for every person who was killed.
Rain clouds threatened overhead and the wind made the Flags fly almost straight...thinking about that September day, those lives lost, all of those Flags flying...flying proud.  Still.  
This was Sandy, Utah's way of remembering -  The Healing Field of Flags - it was impressive and humbling.
I'm grateful to live in this country, grateful to be an American.  I may forget a lot of things, but I'll never forget that September day.  God Bless America.

T.G.I.F.

It's overcast...almost cold out this morning...the experts on the local weather station said the marine layer should burn off by noon...yeah, I'll believe it when I see it!  When it's sunny in Seattle, it's the most beautiful place on the planet...but when it's August and it's cold out, it's just wrong!

 

Today, since it's Friday, I am wishing I was at Friday's in Indianapolis, or Baltimore or Chicago or West Palm...where the sun is shining and the temp is a little on the warm side, for a Seattleite, but what the heck, it's cool inside at Friday's! So if you live in one of these cities, go visit, and eat yourself silly...you be ever so glad it's Friday, too! This sponsorship is brought to you by Friday's® who we have partnered with for this promotion.

Bruschetta...

I know what you're thinking...I'm smart like that...you're thinking who needs a recipe for bruschetta?  It's just chopped up tomatoes, basil and Parm on toasted bread, right?  Wrong.  And besides, I have a secret ingredient...a secret way of making bruschetta that will make YOUR bruschetta passe, boring, insignificant and bland...Think of this as a challenge...a Bruschetta-Off...your bruschetta against mine...right here, right now.  Take your time, gather your ingredients and make your tasteless bruschetta...I'll wait.  And while you're working, let me bring you up to speed on a few things:  First, I GOT MY BABY BOWL BACK!  I know how worried you were for me!!  Thanks for all of your cards/letters/flowers and support...it meant so much!  And now my baby is back where she belongs and all is right in my universe.

Next on my list...tomorrow is my anniversary.  But this year I do not want you to send me gift certificates, chocolates, flowers, etc., it's so sweet of you to always want to do that, but really, I have better plans for your money.

For my anniversary, the one the mister has forgotten about, I'd like you to follow this link and read all about the Iraqi Bundle of Love Project.  You can clean out some of your fabric/yarn stash, help make the world a better place, and I'll consider it an anniversary gift to me and the mister all in one fell swoop...trust me, this is a good thing, a very good thing.

Bruschetta...why do I love it so?  I'll tell you...it's a snack, an appetizer, or a meal...plus it's chewy and crunchy and colorful - so, so much to love!  Okay, here's my deal...just forget about your bruschetta for a minute and listen up...my secret ingredient?  Garlic JUICE!  Oh yeah!  I use minced garlic from a jar, and when I want to make bruschetta I drizzle on some of the juice, on top of the butter before toasting...you've just got to try it...in a word?  Amazing.  Oh, there is one other little secret...I use SALTED French bread...bread that has an outside coating of coarse sea salt...it makes a difference, a huge difference, between bland and bombtastic! 

Of course a little Italian candy - Calamata olives - adds it's own punch to the most incredible bruschetta you've ever had...On a scale of 1 to 10, this is how it would add up...Your bruschetta, probably a 5...I'm just saying...and my bruschetta?  A solid 10.  I could be wrong, maybe yours is a 6, possibly a 7, but this, well, this is a 10.  Make it and do the math for yourself.

Bruschetta - ME

1 loaf good French Bread with sea salt coating (if you can't find this kind of bread, then add sea salt to your bread after toasting, before the toppings are put on)

2 tablespoons butter, softened, or olive oil

2 teaspoons garlic juice (from a jar of minced garlic)

2 tomatoes, chopped

about 8 large fresh basil leaves, chopped

12 Calamata olives, pitted and chopped

1/2 cup fresh Parmesan cheese, shredded

Slice French bread in half, lengthwise.  Butter each half or put olive oil on each half - I prefer butter.   Put under a broiler for 2 to 3 minutes to toast, being careful not to burn.  When toasted to your liking, remove. Using a spoon, spread garlic juice on top of butter, it's okay if you get a few pieces of garlic!  Sprinkle on a bit of the Parmesan to each half.   Top with chopped tomatoes, basil, olives and more Parmesan.  Serves 4 normal people or two pigs. 

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."  ~ J.K. Rowling

Julie and Julia...

As many of you I suppose, I had been looking forward to this movie all summer...and it didn't disappoint.  I loved it from the first Bon Appetit to the last...but then, I was totally prepared for the movie ... you might even say I trained for it... 

Not just any apron would suffice to cook real French food...so I made myself an apron with pictures of Julia Child across the top...and that sweet little chef doll is actually Julia, preparing to julienne!  (I ordered her from Mulberry Moose on ETSY.com and just adore her!) I decorated the entrance to my home with a cooking wreath and set my table as carefully as possible - not that the mister noticed - but I tried.  

Mastering the Art of EATING French Cooking is really quite easy - I'm sure any of you could do it on your very first try, just like I did...but then, someone has to cook it, right?  I've had this paperback copy of Julia's famed book, and the one the movie is based on, for many years - and I've made several dishes from it...it really is like a cooking school at your fingertips - if you don't own this book you should!  

I made sure Julia  was "in the house" by strategically placing pictures of the Queen around my kitchen so I could channel her while I cooked...and see those yellow roses?  My friend grew those - they are from her "Julia Child Rose Bush" - no lie!  Of course, they have the most aromatic scent, as you would expect from a Julia rose!  Julia said many funny things during her life - I typed up a few of them just to remind us of her wit...but really, when it came right down to it, it was all about the food...and over the next few days I will be posting the recipes I made for our French feast before going to see Julie and Julia - they are not intimidating or difficult - just down-right delicious.  Going to watch Julie and Julia on a full stomach of French food was the best way to see it - with just a dollop of popcorn!

The cake, the Reine De Saba, said to be Julia's favorite, was not only the piece de resistance to our meal, but it made a grand appearance in the movie as well!  We kept a close watch on our Eiffel Tower clock (thanks Kendall, it's still working after all these years) so we wouldn't miss the movie...which I highly recommend you don't either! 

Thanks Julia - love you, love your books, love your joie de vivre!

Welcome to my new site!!!

Thanks to Jenny...the all-knowing wizard from Buenos Aires....she found this great place for my blog and got me all set up - I would have NO CLUE as to how to do all this....it's all I can do just to type!  So once again she has come to my rescue.  This is a great locale for me - it allows for me to do a lot more than wordpress.com did - not that there's anything wrong with wordpress....it was very good to me for two weeks....but typepad.com just offers more.

The mister arrived home from China/Vietnam this morning....and even though he told me not to let him sleep, he's been asleep all day......even snoozing thru the Seahawks game....I hope that means he'll be up all night doing HIS OWN laundry and while he's at it the place could use some vacumning!  So while he was snoring I was in the kitchen - read below to see the disaster I created!