Janet's House

Take a Leap and Try Yam Chowder

It all started when I was in the mood for clam chowder. Well, really it began when I had a couple of strips of bacon and thought “hmmm, what can I make?” Now, back to my plan for clam chowder. I rounded up one can of clams…dated 2010. Oops, time to clean out the cabinet. I found a leftover potato in a bag in the garage. It was dimpled, squishy and was growing eyes. Ok, no clam chowder because I didn’t want to go to the store.

I eyed a yam. Yes, I thought, this will do nicely. I grabbed an onion (fresh) and dinner was on the way. My Yam chowder turned out to be quite good, even to my non yam loving housemates. It was rich, sweet and a beautiful color. I only made enough for 2-3 servings, as it was only an experiment.

Here’s what I used:

1 small yam, peeled and cubed

1 small onion, chopped

2 strips thick sliced bacon, chopped

1 1/2 cups half and half (more or less depending on your taste)

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)

pinch of pepper

pinch of paprika

pinch of parsley

Here’s how I did it:

Add bacon to pan and sauté for about 2 minutes on medium high heat. Add onion and yam. Cook, stirring for 5-6 minutes, until bacon looks done (longer if you like your bacon crisp). Lower heat to low and add remaining ingredients. Heat very slowly for about 15 minutes. Keep an eye on it so milk won’t curdle or scald. Just warm until yams are tender. Serve.

                                     Enjoy!

Pieces of Patchwork

I’m happy to report that I’ve started working on my sons quilt. If you remember from here I’m making a quilt to send my son off to college next fall. He’ll be attending the University of Montana and we thought it would be fun to make the quilt with the school colors which coincidently are the quite manly shades of maroon and silvery gray.

 

He was with me when we picked out the first few fabrics but we both agreed that there needed to be a couple of prints with white. Otherwise the quilt would end up too dark. The white is such a nice contrast with the dark border I think.

 

 

Anyway, progress is being made. I love and highly recommend the book that I’m using.  It’s titled The Practical Guide to Patchwork and its author Elizabeth Hartman has filled it with beautiful quilts and inspiration. Everything is there for the beginner that I am, including lots of suggestions and the “whys” of the instructions. It’s written simply and is full of pictures, organization ideas and step-by-steps to insure success.

I was looking through the book and found the link to her blog: http://www.ohfransson.com/. It too is full of fun ideas and creative ways to use fabric. She lives in Portland; how about that??

I can’t wait to make a table runner with the bright, sunny fabrics I’ve been collecting. 2012 Christmas gifts?? Why yes, quite possibly!

Letting Go of the Dreams

 

I know this quote might make an impact on someone else in an intellectual way, but it’s impact on me was based strictly on a material level.  I’ve been quite satisfied with myself in the amount of donating, selling and general purging I’ve been doing in the last couple of years, but this quote opened my eyes even further.

Like a lot of other people I’ve been collecting, saving and acquiring things for that other life I was planning to have. Not that I’m not perfectly happy. I just thought I might be living in another house, the “someday house”, we always called it. I would find myself at an art show or wonderful shop and feel the urge to buy something that would look perfect in a kitchen where the window was over the sink, or a home with a big open floor plan. I currently have neither but for some reason, that never stopped me. I would tuck my treasure aside or sometimes awkwardly display it, all the while imagining it in our future space.

Friends have told me they’ve been hanging onto treasures in much the same way. Some thought they’d have a different or bigger house than they have now, or be living with someone they aren’t. Others thought there might be children or grandchildren by now. Whatever the reason, we were all saving for our future selves. I think it’s quite liberating to give the heave ho to material things that may be weighing us down on many levels.

There’s a certain sadness in giving up the life that was in the plan and settling into reality, but it can also be very satisfying. Free from excess stuff, free to truly plan, and freedom from the burden of thinking you’ve failed because you’ve still not reached that far off goal. Without all the material possessions, we have more room for life right now.

Besides being happy where I live now, who knows where we’ll be living “someday.” As a matter of fact, I also think it would be infinitely more fun when and if that next house comes along, to enjoy filling it with new found treasures instead of feeling the obligation to fill it with my saved up stuff.

While making decisions on what will stay and what must go I’ve had this mantra going in my head: “Won’t it be fun for someone else to discover this treasure.”  This simple phrase helps me realize that these pieces can still be treasures, not just my castoffs. I wrap each one in tissue paper to keep it safe as it travels through the world of donation.  I’m just moving it to it’s next home where it just might end up in exactly the right place.

I still love my many collections and I know I’ll never live in a home of beautiful minimalism. Now though, if something I’m hanging onto just doesn’t quite fit, it’s okay, it can go live elsewhere. Imagine having an empty closet shelf! Ohh, the possibilities!

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

We had an abundance of Valentines candy left over, so my son decided to make cookies and add the candy. Good idea!! He found this recipe on Joy of Baking website, but being like his mother, he decided to use it as a guide rather than follow the exact directions.

Although the muffin cookies sounded good, he chose to use the batter to make a more traditional cookie. The cookies turned out wonderfully light and the peanut butter candy in the center was warmed to perfection. He also used candy kisses, just to use up all that extra candy, you know.

Here's how it did it:

 

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup light brown sugar

3/4 cup granulated white sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

48 miniature peanut butter cups (and/or chocolate kisses), unwrapped

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place rack in the center of the oven.  Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter. Add the sugars and beat until light and fluffy (2-3 min). Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and beat just until incorporated. Use a small scoop or spoon to place rounded spoonful's on cookie sheets.

Bake the cookies for about 8 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly browned around the edges but still soft in the center.  Remove the cookies from the oven, and gently press one miniature peanut butter cup into the center of each cookie. The peanut butter cup should be even with the top of the batter. Return the cookies to the oven and bake an additional 3 minutes or until cookies are golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

                        Makes about 48 cookies.

                              

                         Enjoy!

Another Chili Evening

Sometimes all it takes is a cool, wet day to inspire a big pot of chili.  My family will tell you that I’m not the biggest chili fan, and they’re right, I’m not, but they are so I make it fairly often. They tell me my chili is quite good, so I’ll share what I’ve come up with.

It’s a little bit tricky to know if you’re making the best chili possible if you’re not that into it so I set out to see what it is that makes it a less than favorite meal for me. I decided that I really don’t like kidney beans. Easy enough; there are lots of beans from which to choose. I’m also not so hot for chili that’s too hot. That’s easy too.

I think this should be called Four Bean Chili, because, obviously I’ve chosen four beans: pinto, black, garbanzo and white kidney. I like the different colors they bring to the chili (and they make a pretty picture, don’t you think??). As far as spices go, I suggest getting it started and conservatively adding spices to taste. You can always add more. I buy a chili spice bag at the grocery store. Sniff each one carefully before adding; you can tell which ones will add the heat. I used a smoky salt which added a nice flavor.

 

The  Ingredients:

1 large onion, chopped coarsely

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 pound ground beef (coarsely  ground, if possible)

4 cans of your choice of beans (drained)

2 large cans (28 oz. each) diced tomato and juice

2 teaspoons chopped fresh or frozen cilantro

chili powders/spices to taste

1 cup (or more) water

salt (regular or smoked) and pepper

 

Assembly:

Brown onion and garlic, set aside. Brown meat. Add onion/garlic back to pan with meat, along with the tomatoes.  Cook on medium heat for about 20 minutes. Add drained beans and all other ingredients. Cook for at least an hour and a half over medium heat.  

Serve with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream or whatever your favorite toppings. I served it along with cornbread, green salad and a cold beer.

                                    Enjoy!

Add a Table, Make a Tablecloth, Have a Party!

We’ve been doing quite a bit of birthday celebrating lately and this time we found ourselves needing a bigger table. Our current table is a drop leaf, which at 45” square is great for our everyday life. Any longer and it would just hold more of our junk. When we need to host a larger group, the leaves are snapped out and suddenly our table is 45” X 85”.  It is pretty comfortable for 6-8 people.

This weekend my son hosted a group of friends for dinner before the big Mardi Gras dance at school. It also happened to be the day of his 18th birthday so I was more than happy to accommodate his wishes. What mom wouldn’t be happy to have her son want to have his friends for dinner??  There were 10 people so we needed to go even larger for the table.

We moved the whole shebang into the living room for more space, which always lends a warm mood to the setting.  For the extension I didn’t want something I’d have trouble storing so we decided to purchase simple table legs from IKEA. They’re inexpensive ($3. each) and come with not only the leg, but the bracket they screw into. We purchased a piece of plywood and cut it to 45”, mounted, then screwed the table legs in place. It will all come apart simply for storage, but available for any future festivities.

I now have 130” of table and was able to seat everyone. I purchased fabric instead of spending money on an expensive tablecloth.  I made two separate pieces, one for the table with leaves extended and one for the new 45” addition. When the tables are pushed up next to one another it  looks like one very long table and since the new addition is the same size as our everyday table I’ll be able to use the smaller tablecloth more often. I was glad I chose to do it this way; if I’d made one long tablecloth I’d rarely have the opportunity to make use of it.

About 4 1/2 yards of 56” fabric allows for enough overhang. I chose a dark print to help hide spills or stains. I turned under the edges and zipped around the whole thing with the sewing machine. I love this Kilim inspired print of deep reds and dusty pink complimented by gold and sage green. When looking for fabric for a tablecloth go to the home décor section of the fabric store. The fabrics are wider (54”-60”) and the heavier weight is more substantial for a table covering.

For fun I sprinkled candy down the center of the table and added short votive candles. Enchiladas and salad was the menu choice so chips and salsa were the obvious appetizers. A slice of birthday cake and they were ready to dance their way through the evening. They all had fun and by 8:00 were out the door and off to their dance. Plenty of time to tidy up.

                           Happy Birthday Sam!

Redstone Studios-Painted Maps

My sister-in-law is a cartographer. 

She designs and creates one-of-a-kind maps that tell the story of someone’s life or a particular journey in their life. She works out of her studio in Durham Connecticut which is located behind the wonderful pre-1900 schoolhouse that she and her architect husband have lovingly renovated into their home.

Connie and her clients collaborate on the initial planning of the map to determine style, colors and details. The client is encouraged to send her their favorite quotations and photographs to work into the elements of the map. Blending art with science each map is unique, and Connie’s careful attention to detail keeps them geographically accurate as well.

Upon entering the studio, maps in various styles are represented. The large table can be used for client or business meetings.

Connie’s studio reflects her love of the creative process as well as her attention to aesthetics. The small cottage like studio, designed by her husband is wonderfully lit by large windows and tall ceilings. You may have caught a glimpse of her studio the other day in my post about my mother-in-laws 90th birthday party. The studio is alive with maps in progress, sketches and plans, as well as fun personal touches.

 

Room dividers act as pin boards where she can comfortably work on maps regardless of their size. The nearby computer is necessary for client communication as well as reference. The many books are full of inspiration and illustrations of ancient maps, lettering styles and color.

 

This map chronicles the journey that Connie’s family made to visit her son who was stationed in Burkina Faso, Africa where he served during his time in the Peace Corps.

 

Here is a map showing the journey of a couple who traveled to China to adopt their infant daughter and bring her home to her new family.

 

We commissioned this map for our family, reflecting summer vacations to our favorite lake in the Oregon Cascades.  With illustrations of our dogs, our red canoe and the birds we see when we’re at the high mountain lake it’s the perfect way to preserve our memories. The inset shows Crater Lake, a favorite side trip. The quotation we chose echoes my feeling for life: “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”  Time with family is truly a big thing and I think our map is a beautiful reminder of our typical family vacations.

 

Check out Connie’s website to see more maps and learn additional details about Redstone Studios.

Living to 90!

This is what 90 looks like! (sign me up!). We celebrated the 90th birthday of my mother-in-law, Nana (as everyone calls her) last weekend in Connecticut. You can tell that she thoroughly enjoyed her party as much as we all did.

We travelled to Durham Connecticut, getting there a couple of days early so we could help prepare for the big day. I was the assembler of the gift bags which also served as seat assignments at the table. My sister-in-law had everything set up so I could fill each bag with shredded crinkly paper, chocolate, then tie them up with a velvet ribbon.

                 

 Everything was laid out the day before as part of the preparation.

 

As guests arrived we met and mingled in the studio where the toasts, chatting and reuniting was just the beginning of the afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After many toasts to her wonderful life we moved back to the house where a beautiful lunch had been prepared.

 

 

 

There were three individal tables and Nana moved among them as each course was served. That way we were all able to enjoy a more intimate time with her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                       A beautiful cake, fit for a queen

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presents, cards, flowers, a tear or two and lots of good wishes!

 

Nana and her wonderful friend Charlie (91!) thoroughly enjoyed the tribute to her life of love, friends and family.

                       Happy Birthday Nana!!

Happy Valentines Day!

Because this is the day to think of our loved ones, I encourage you all to take care of your own heart. Go for a walk, work out, eat healthy and breathe deeply! Your loved ones want you to live a long, healthy life. Show them you care!

                   Enjoy your day!

Chicken Love

I found this recipe in Ina Garten’s book Barefoot Contessa How Easy is That? It’s called Jeffrey’s Roast Chicken. In her cookbook Ina tells the story that it’s also call engagement chicken because when a girlfriend makes this dish for her boyfriend, she ends up engaged. What better choice for a Valentine’s Day dinner?  I’ve made it several times lately and it’s easy, the whole house smelled delicious and we all loved it.

It begins with a roasting chicken and placing a whole head of garlic and 1/2 of a lemon inside the bird. After cooking you make a wonderful gravy with the onions, lemons and leftover juices. Yum! I served it with mashed potatoes and a garden salad. Luckily we have leftovers, because I’m not quite finished enjoying it.

Here’s the recipe:

1 (4-5-pound) roasting chicken

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 lemons

1 whole head of garlic, cut in half crosswise

good olive oil

2 Spanish onions,, peeled and thickly sliced

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/2 cup chicken stock

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

 

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

In these pictures I was roasting 2 chickens so I’d have enough for my book group, family and leftovers. It doesn’t take much more effort but left me with lots more chicken. Well worth it!

Remove and discard the chicken giblets. Pat the outside dry. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken. Cut the lemons in quarters and place 2 quarters in the cavity along with the garlic. Brush the chicken with olive oil and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken. Place the chicken in a small (11 X 14-inch) roasting pan. (If the pan is too large, the onions will burn.)

Place the reserved lemons and the sliced onions in a large bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.                    Pour the mixture around the chicken.

Roast the chicken for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and a thigh. Remove the chicken to a platter, leaving the lemons and onions in the pan. Cover the chicken with foil, and allow to rest for 10 minutes while you prepare the sauce.

Place the pan on top of the stove over medium–high heat. Add the wine and stir with a wooden spoon to scrape up the brown bits. Add the stock and sprinkle on the flour, stirring constantly for a minute, until the sauce thickens. Add any juices that collect on the platter under the chicken and taste for seasoning. Carve the chicken onto the platter and spoon the onions and sauce over it. If the lemons are tender enough to eat, serve them, too, sprinkle with salt and serve.

                         Enjoy

Away to Connecticut

We're on our way to Connecticut for a 90th birthday celebration. I promise to take lots of pictures of the party and of the wonderful art studio where my sister-in-law creates her beautiful maps.

Needlepoint Pillow Sleeve

 

I made this pillow for my good good friends. Their cocker spaniel, Millie is getting pretty old and I thought I’d make a pillow as a surprise. I wanted them to have it while she’s still with us so it would be something happy instead of a sad reminder of her passing. I’m so pleased with how it turned out and as you can see, Millie likes it too.

This is a great way to make a pillow from a small piece of needlepoint or tapestry. The needlework piece is stitched onto a ‘sleeve’ which simply slides over a plain pillow. Imagine the possibilities! Holiday or seasonal sleeves slipped over a pillow. No more stacks of off-season pillows stored in a closet somewhere. Once you’ve made a basic pillow you can have fun making seasonal or holiday sleeves.

This is also such a nice way to feature a small needlework piece. Even a section of an old needlepoint can be sized down and made into something special.

With a minimal amount of sewing you can have a new look.

After the needlepoint piece is blocked, lay trim (face in/up) over stitched area and using a zipper foot, stitch as close as possible along needlework area. I usually stitch several times; each time getting closer to the stitching line.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once stitched, trim away excess canvas. Press trim outward, away from needlework so that the canvas and trim edges flip to the back.

 

Press flat. Make sure no canvas shows from the front. You can always re-stitch to get everything in the right place.

 

 

 

 

 

For placement of needlework onto sleeve:

Cut length of sleeve fabric double that of the pillow size (16” square pillow-cut 32” length of fabric). I suggest wrapping the piece around the pillow form to make sure you have everything where you want it. Decide where you want the needlework placed. I placed mine centered at about 16”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pin needlepoint in place.

 

Stitch in the “well” (the area where the trim and needlework meet) using a zipper foot.

 

 

 

 

Cut a lining fabric to exactly the same size as decorative piece. Lay right sides together and stitch around all edges, leaving a small opening for turning. Turn, press.

 

 

Topstitch around all edges catching opening.

 

 

 

 

 

zig-zag or hand stitch finished edges together to make finished sleeve.

 

 

 

 

There you have it! Now it’s ready to slide onto your pillow.

Welcome to the New Space!

My sewing area is complete and the new space makes me very happy! I love the crisp clean feeling and I love the fact that I know where everything is located. I can’t wait to begin a new project!

My fabrics and sewing needs are in one location and the wire baskets allow me to see them better that if I’d chosen wooden drawers. Yarns are up at the top (because I haven’t been doing much knitting), but can be rotated lower when necessary.

I love having my favorite collections nearby for inspiration. Old wooden spools on top of the printers drawer filled with thread. The dress form is from a favorite yarn shop that closed a few years back. 

 

 

The bulletin board holds pictures, snippings and words to inspire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The room must still function as an occasional guest bedroom so it isn’t all mine. I see I need a little ‘cord control’ but everything is available and ready for a project. We still have to pull up the remainder of the carpet and there’s a nasty old file cabinet that needs to be emptied and disposed of. I hope to set up the counter near the window for photographing my projects and I still need to get an efficient, movable cutting table.

For now I am very happy with the completed portion of the project. Lots of work and decisions, sorting and donating made this come together into exactly what I wanted. I highly suggest digging in and making a space for yourself. It’s a big endeavor but it’s such a sense of accomplishment. 

Nothing Says Happy Birthday like Flank Steak

We had a birthday around here last week and flank steak always proves to be my go to birthday dinner. Everyone loves it and it requires little effort so more fun can be spent enjoying the festivities.

I purchased two steaks, total weight about 4 pounds. There would only be six of us for dinner, but the leftovers are too terrific to miss.  I made a marinade and let them sit for several hours.

 

The marinade:

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/3 cup soy sauce

1 clove crushed garlic

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

salt and pepper

 

I turned the steaks once during the marinating process. Before grilling I sprinkled a salt, onion, garlic spice on both sides. Just use your favorite all-purpose spice. I cooked them on the outdoor grill but if the weather is uncooperative you can broil them in the oven. Keep an eye on it all.

I served it with the equally traditional grilled asparagus. I lined up the asparagus on a cookie sheet, drizzled with olive oil and just a bit of balsamic then sprinkled with sea salt. Watch them closely under the broiler and turn once during the cooking.

 

 

 

 

A big salad, a beautiful loaf of bread and what else does one need for a wonderful birthday gathering? Oh, yes, presents and pie!

 

 

       Enjoy

                 

Pillow Talk

I’ve been making pillows like crazy lately. I’ve totally got pillows on my mind. I’ve been sewing, taking lots of pictures as I go and then writing about how I did each one. I proclaim February “Pillow Month”. Each week I’ll share what I’ve made with lots of notes and pictures. I would love to hear back if you’ve tried any of them and I would love to see your pictures.

In between the pillows of my own I’m going to toss in a few pictures of lovely pillows I’ve noticed along the way. Perhaps they will be a source of inspiration for you.

This first pillow (on the right) is about as simple as it gets. I had this beautiful fabric even before I had the sofa. I love the gold and silver metallic for an icy winter look. For this pillow I used 1/2 yard of fabric and an 18” down/feather pillow insert. Instructions follow:

Cut 2 18” squares of fabric. Pin edges and begin stitching on one side just after a corner. Stitch all around, ending after just rounding the last corner. Trim off corners for ease in turning.

 

 

Turn right side out. Roll pillow for easier insertion. Once inside, shake pillow and pull pillow form to corners. For added fullness you can stuff pieces of fiberfill into each corner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stand pillow with open seam facing upwards. Pull seam taut and pin opening. Stitch, hiding stitches into seam. Remove pins and shake.

There you go! This pillow literally took me 20 minutes to make and that included stopping to photograph along the way.

Have fun with this. Take your sofa cushion to the fabric store and pick out something to liven up your living room. As a decorator once told me, a collection of fresh new pillows can instantly change your room. If they’re this easy to make, why not give it a try?!

 

Notes:

• If you choose to put in a zipper, put that in first along the bottom seam. A 16” zipper works best for an 18” pillow.
• I always make sure I’ve sewn around each corner, rather than leaving the whole side open. It’s way more difficult to hand stitch the corners and make them match. It’s just a bit more work squeezing in the pillow form, but well worth the effort.
• If you don’t have a sewing machine, this pillow could be made by hand. I’d use a strong thread and keep the stitches nice and tight.