Sabzi Korma

I mentioned on Facebook that I had finally had the opportunity to cook from my Indian cookbook, and had some lovely friends request the recipe. I chose something called Sabzi Korma. I knew Korma was a way of braising vegetables in a nut-type sauce, but that is where my knowledge ended. My sole purpose for choosing this recipe was the simple fact there was an eggplant in my fridge that was in desperate need of cooking.

The list of ingredients is long, but it’s fairly simple to put together. All you need do is chop all the vegetables and measure out the herbs and spices beforehand. Read the recipe thoroughly so you can combine the spices that need to be added at the same time (less clean-up that way, too). Also, allow yourself plenty of time. I started and hour and thirty minutes before I wanted to serve. I gave myself 30 minutes for chopping, etc. It didn’t take that long, but I do get silly when I cook, so extra time is sometimes a necessity. I served this with some Basmati rice and some bread from the same cookbook.

5-6 Tbsp. light vegetable oil
1 ½ c. chopped onion
2 cloves minced garlic
2 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger
¼ c. finely chopped fresh cilantro
¼ c. blanched almonds, finely ground
1 Tbsp. ground coriander
½ tsp. ground fennel
½ tsp. cayenne pepper (can cut this down or out)
¼ tsp. turmeric
1 c. tomato puree (1 8 oz. can tomato sauce)
1 tsp. paprika
2 c. water
1 medium head cauliflower (about 2 lbs.), stemmed, cored, and chopped into 1 ½ inch pieces
1 small eggplant (about ½ pound), chopped into 1 inch pieces
2 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 ½ tsp. Garam Masala
1 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds

Measure out all the spices and chop and prepare all vegetables. Heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook 5-10 minutes, or until brown. Add garlic and ginger, cook another 2 minutes. Add cilantro and almonds, cook 2 more minutes. Stir in ground coriander, fennel, cayenne pepper, and turmeric. Allow to sizzle a few seconds, then add tomato puree and paprika, reduce heat to low and cook for 2 minutes taking care to stir continually to prevent burning and sticking. Add the water and all the vegetables; raise the temperature and bring to a boil. Once boiling, immediately lower temperature again to low, cover, and allow to simmer for 30 minutes. Stir in Garam Masala, and then turn off the heat, cover again, and allow the flavors to meld for another 30 minutes. Garnish with sesame seeds.

You can heat briefly at the end if you feel it is not hot enough. My pans really retain the heat, so this isn’t a problem for me. This was really good! The bread I served was a flat, fried Indian bread made of barley and herbs. The closest thing I can compare them to is a small tortilla.

Also, the original recipe called for only 1 ½ c. water, but knowing what I do about my altitude, I knew I’d need a little extra.

As always, if anyone makes this, let me know what you think.

Just For You

Funny the way things work out. Yesterday, I was combing my cedar chest for something in particular. I have a very complex method of filing old papers that have sentimental value, and I call it “shove it in my journal.” (Given my propensity towards notebooks, it should come as no surprise that I have journals, too.) Whenever I have a piece of paper, handwritten note, card, etc., that I would like to save, I tuck it into that particular day in the current journal. This paper I was looking for, however, I received 20 years ago. This meant opening the high school era journals. Sigh. I was such a dork!

I found the paper in question, right where I assumed it would be; I’m nothing if not thorough in my methods. I also came across a few pictures and handwritten notes from my Mother that instantly had me in tears. I miss my Mom so much.  As I was thinking about my reasons for finding said paper, and moving my fingers across my Mother’s writing wondering what she would say about the course my life is taking, I found another piece of paper that she gave me when I was a junior in high school and as far as I can recall, I haven’t looked at it since. I have no idea where my Mom got this; all I know from what I wrote in my journal is that she left it on my desk for me one evening. I loved it, so tucked it into my journal. I share it with you today:

Hugging is healthy: It helps the body’s immune system, it keeps you healthier, it cures depression, it reduces stress, it induces sleep, it’s invigorating, it’s rejuvenating, it has no unpleasant side effects, and hugging is nothing less than a miracle drug.

Hugging is all natural: It is organic, naturally sweet, no pesticides, no preservatives, no artificial ingredients and 100 % wholesome.

Hugging is practically perfect: There are no movable parts, no batteries to wear out, no periodic check-ups, low energy consumption, high energy yield, inflation-proof, non-fattening, no monthly payments, no insurance requirements, theft-proof, non-taxable, non-polluting, and of course, fully returnable.

I want to hug each of you today. Please print this, please share this. Hang it over your computer, on your fridge or anywhere you can see it often. Give it to a friend or family member, or even a stranger. Read it often, and take its advice.

Thanks for the hug today, Mom.  ♥

Oh, the Merriment!

On Saturday, I went to the local Krishna Temple for their Festival of Colors celebrating Holi. In India, Holi announces spring and the passing of winter. According the Temple’s website “Holi is celebrated with special importance in the North of India. It solemnizes the love of Radha and Krishna. The spraying of colored powders recalls the love sport of Lord Krishna and His devotees. The color, noise and entertainment that accompany the celebration of Holi bears witness to a feeling of oneness and sense of brotherhood. The festival brings home the lesson of spiritual and social harmony.” Ok, why would anyone not want to participate?

This is the Temple.

My 10-year old daughter and I went, along with some friends. My daughter saw the pictures from last year and was game for the whole affair. She was nuts! She wanted to be right in the middle of the crowd and she was not in any way shy of throwing a handful of colored dust on a total stranger; she really kept an eye out for those who didn’t have much “color.”

I am delighted to say she also thought her mother never quite had enough.

It took several washings to remove the color from my hair. My daughter, however, is absolutely giddy that her scalp is still a rainbow. She wanted to show it off at school today. Seriously, she is so proud!

I don’t know if I had more fun throwing color or watching my daughter throw color. Colors aside, I’ve never been kissed by so many random strangers in my life! That was oddly fun. I should mention I was sans husband, so maybe that helped? My husband just smirked when I told him.

The colored powder that was thrown was simply a non-toxic colored corn starch. Honestly, the yellow smelled so good! My daughter actually took my first bag away from me because I wanted to smell it. She upended it over me.

If you find yourself strangely curious for more, take a look at this photographer’s website. He is graciously allowing attendees to use his photos on Facebook and blogs (which is where the first picture came from). There are some great photos.


Peace and Love  ♥

Friday Night

It’s Friday, but you knew that. I have had a busy, yet pleasant day but have not found free time enough to sit down to write anything out. The reason I mention Friday is because when dinner time rolls around on Friday I find myself at leisure. This does not mean I get the night off – I do love to cook, but a night off would be nice – it means I have more time to devote, fuss, play, fiddle (I leave the violin in the closet), and experiment. Out come the complicated and/or time consuming recipes.

All week long there has been a recurring request. “Mom, when are you going to make spring rolls again? Hey Mom, remember those spring rolls I liked? Uh Mom, can you buy some bean sprouts?” All of these questions came from my son, and the latter was what he said this morning as he headed for the bus. This alone is spectacular; my son, the mega-carnivore requesting a vegetarian meal. So, I went out and did indeed pick up some bean sprouts. I love it when people stare at me when I am scooping them into a bag – think Energizer bunny.

As soon as my chai is done simmering, I will begin the chopping of vegetables and mixing of sauces and spices and start rolling. I like them to sit in the freezer for a bit before frying because they hold shape better and dribble less. It’s a quirk. I’ll take a picture if they turn out to be picture worthy. I’m also going to try an Indian recipe tomorrow and am very excited about that. Remember those cookbooks I mentioned a few post back? One was an Eastern-themed cookbook and I think I’ve read it cover to cover – twice. Eggplant and potatoes spiced with Garam Masala. I can’t wait, I can smell it already!

A Little Spring and a Little Clean

Just so you all know, today is floor mopping day. I always mop on a Thursday. The reasoning is silly, but it works for me, always has. If I were to change days now I’d really be messed up (I do not need any help with this). Last August, I posted my potion for floor mopping, you can find it here. Lately, I have been using vinegar, castile soap, and spruce and lemon essential oils. Oh my goodness, does it ever smell lovely! During the winter when the air inside is so stuffy, a little lingering scent of spruce is most welcome. Now that Mother Nature can no longer hide spring, I will probably change the essential oils to match the seasonal mood; lavender or peppermint, or perhaps both.

You know what this means, don’t you? Spring Cleaning! Yes, I had to capitalize that because that is its title. I also embark upon a lesser known activity called Autumn Cleaning, but no one ever knows what I’m talking about. I’ll leave you to figure that out.  But, spring is where I am, so spring cleaning is what I am about to begin. I opened my kitchen window yesterday and the whole plan just washed over me with the sweet air. It’s time.

So do you have a plan for spring cleaning? Each year I make a new list, but it rarely varies from year to year. I don’t save the list because I’m not a pack-rat and you never know what another year will bring, so I always start afresh – like spring! There are the usual suspects, such as taking down and cleaning all the curtains. This is not too bad until I get to the kitchen.

Look carefully at this picture.

Do you see all those little beads?

I had a moment of fabric insanity and thought “Wow, those are so cute and would look fabulous in the kitchen!” Clearly my fervor for fabric took over common sense because if I would have thought about needing to clean each bead individually by hand I would have reconsidered. Once a year is all I give them.

I usually begin the cleaning escapades with the light fixtures, which I will begin next week. This week has been nuts, me along with it. I figure it is always a good idea to start over my head, and I mean this literally; start and the top and work my way down. I will remove the glass from all the fixtures and allow it to soak while I clean the metal that is not removable. When the glass is put back in its rightful place and I flip on the switch to check the results, I can’t help but laugh as I realize just how much darkness I had been living in. Let there be light!

Laughter

Have you ever stopped to think about what makes you laugh? I don’t mean a comedic movie or a witty friend, but rather those every day things for which you seem to always find joy. Personally, I find humor in just about everything. For a long while I thought I was cold and unfeeling because I laugh so much, but I have recently come to realize that this just might be a gift.

Yesterday I took my sister to her surgery follow-up appointment with the oncologist. We were to receive the news from pathology so there was definitely some tension involved. Well, fantastic news dear readers, she’s free of cancer. Her pathology came back clear. There was no cancer to be found in her lymph nodes and they were able to completely remove the tumors and surrounding tissue. Her case was presented to the tumor conference at the cancer hospital and all the doctors concurred. She doesn’t even need radiation. Giddiness ensued, I tell you. It was evident that the doctor and nurses don’t often get to deliver this sort of news. They reveled in it just as much as we did. We had built ourselves up for a long fight, just like with my Mom, but I’ve always maintained that this one felt different. Does it ever!

After the office visit, we took a short drive over to my sister’s shop to spread the good news, but were met with a shock. When my sister poked her head out of a broken window to greet us, we knew something was amiss. Her store had a break-in and we found her cleaning up finger print graphite dust that had been spread all over the surfaces. You’re smart, so think about this – graphite dust and wedding dresses. We all escaped to the little pastry shop down the street. Yeah, pastry is always a good idea. Needless to say, there were some pretty bizarre emotions hovering over me yesterday.

As I arrived home late afternoon, with a million things to do, for some reason, I began to think about what makes me laugh. Why do I find joy and humor in the little things? Here are a few things that made me laugh yesterday, aside from the miraculous cancer news:

Oh my gosh, sesame oil!

 Opening a jar of my homemade strawberry jam and finding a piece of vanilla bean I evidently forgot to scoop out while canning.
 Bending over to pick up trash the wind had blown into my yard – it was yellow and I like yellow.
 The vintage dress pattern my Dad found at an estate sale.
 Screwing up a curry recipe (I shouldn’t be allowed to cook while so tired).
 Finding a piece of mud on my kitchen floor that was shaped like a heart.
 Waking up at 2:03 am.
 Turning over individual pieces of frying tofu with a fork.
 The little buds on my flowering plum tree that are now big enough I can see them without my glasses.  Seriously, I giggled! Come over in a few weeks and smell my tree and giggle with me. It’s intoxicating!
 My husband’s beard. He just doesn’t get how cute he is.
 Mistyping my user name and password for this blog. I do it every single day!
 My hair sliding out of the pins I so desperately try to control it with.
 Although I am struggling with my yoga practice right now, unrolling my mat last night made me grin.
 My daughter trying to speak with an English accent. Actually, I snorted with laughter for this one.
 The look on my little sister’s face as she gingerly held up an envelope between her thumb and forefinger that was covered in finger print dust.
 My son using the word garrulous to describe his sister.
 Saying out loud in response to a question, “I am what I am and knowing how much that weighs won’t change anything.”
 Having absolutely no clue why any of this makes me laugh, makes me laugh.

What about you; what makes you laugh? I encourage you to write it down because it might just make you laugh, or even better, someone else.

Garam Masala Rice Dish

Here is the recipe for the rice dish I made early last week, two posts below this one.  It really is rather delicious and very filling. If you omit the nuts, it would be a great accompaniment to a meat dish (don’t want too much fat). Also, since this is spiced with Garam Masala, it would make a great accompaniment to anything you might be serving that is on the spicy side. Garam Masala implies a sweetness, so really balances out spicy dishes. This is why I throw in a few raisins with this rice dish; they marry well with the flavors. Also, sautéing the veggies first will concentrate the flavors so they don’t become overwhelmed by the spices.

For those that are not aware, Garam Masala is a blend of spices used in Indian cooking which includes coriander, black pepper, cumin, cardamom, and cinnamon. It gives warmth and sweetness, but no heat. The scent alone is amazing, so I highly recommend you breathe it in! I always do this when I cook, it’s a little quirk of mine. I love to smell it, then imagine what it will taste like with my chosen ingredients. I suppose I was destined to love this blend because it uses cardamom, my absolute favorite spice.

“Doesn’t Have A Name Yet” Rice Dish

Oil for sautéing
3 cups vegetable broth
1 cup white rice
1 small parsnip, chopped into ¼ inch pieces
½ red bell pepper, chopped into small pieces
½ small zucchini, sliced into small pieces
½ onion, chopped fine
½ cup golden raisins
½ tsp. Garam Masala
½ cup cashews
Finely chopped cilantro

Prepare your broth and stir Garam Masala into the broth; set aside. Heat oil in a large pan; add vegetables and sauté for about 5-6 minutes. Add rice to pan and stir until rice begins to brown, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in raisins, then pour broth into the pan. Do not stir at this point! Allow the mixture to come to boiling, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 25 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. Stir in the cashews, sprinkle with cilantro.

Brown rice can be used, which I actually prefer. The picture I posted shows white rice, so that is what I used for the recipe. The day I made this up and took the photo, I was feeling altogether too lazy to go downstairs to fetch more brown rice, so used white. If you use brown, then just increase the simmer time to about 45 minutes.

Enjoy!

Have Mat, Will Travel.

More often than not, what I write here just flows out quite unplanned. Sometimes I do have an intended subject, but even then I find that once I begin writing, it ends up as something different. This is my long winded way of saying I don’t plan posts. I sit down and I start to write, but I could not think of anything to write about today! I have opened up the laptop several times and the thing just stares at me (yes, I wrote that correctly). Incidentally, my laptop’s name is Robo-Bubble.

When indecision occurs, I do one of two things: I putter around the house and engage in random tidying, or I practice some sort of yoga. Funny though, I often engage in random tidying while practicing yoga (don’t ask, because if you do, I’ll answer). So, as I completed my posture practice a while ago, I once again started thinking about what I’d like to write here today. This is when it came to me! I am going to tell you all how I clean my yoga mat. You’re excited now, aren’t you? Hang in there all you non-yoga people, because this has other practical applications.

Upward-facing Princess

(this is my niece)

To begin, and I know I may have mentioned this, I make my own “stuff.” I make my own cleaning products, my own soap, etc. What I may not have mentioned is that I have ridiculously sensitive skin. If I were to wash my mat with something, then put my face against it, I would have some serious issues with my skin. Also, detergents build up over time and have the potential to cause degradation.

So, a while back, when I finally picked out a new yoga mat (the old one is pictured), I did not want to wash it with commercial cleaning products. I have been asked after the yoga class I attend why I never clean my mat. I was not at all offended by this; if I’m never seen wiping it down after class, then one could rightly assume I didn’t do it later. I ended up standing in the parking lot explaining it to the lovely woman who asked. I do indeed clean my mat, I just don’t use any type of commercially produced cleanser. I make my own.

Once a month, or thereabouts, I thoroughly clean my mat with my all purpose cleaner. It does have castile soap in it which dissolves dirt. For the day to day wipe-down, I use something soap free. A very simple spray, that for some adorable reason I call “yoga mat spray.” For each cup of distilled water, add 3 drops Tea Tree essential oil, 2 drops peppermint essential oil, and 2 drops lavender essential oil - shaken or stirred is up to you. Spray it on, then wipe it off. That’s it. These particular oils are antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, and just plain smell good together.

I purchased a small bottle to keep this mixture in, but then something curious happened. One fine day, I ran out of my usual potion I use for antibacterial purposes (think Lysol if it helps create a mental picture). I grabbed my yoga mat spray. Love it, loved it, loved it, then bought a bigger bottle. Now, I use it for so much more than wiping down the yoga mat. I spray it on the door knobs, in the garbage cans, in the lunch boxes, and even in my car. But still I call it yoga mat spray.

Just look at this picture and figure out what happened.

Dancing Shiva and the backward crab-walk?

To sum up: I make my own. I have sensitive skin. I really do wash my mat. I love yoga. Have a lovely weekend.

I'm not a vegetarian, I just don't eat meat!

I feel the need to respond to the comment, “How does your family cope?” This was in reference to vegetarianism. Read here if you’d like a succinct and mildly laughable account of how I ceased to eat meat. Let me say that becoming a vegetarian was not something I set out to do; it is simply what I have become. In short, it was not deliberate.

I was raised as meat-eater by meat-eaters. My grandfather had sheep (lambs!) and wild chickens, and I once saw my grandmother behead a chicken. This memory does not scar me (she was an English teacher and that scarred me). My youngest sister is a vegetarian and so is her husband. They are what I refer to as passionate vegetarians. If you were to ask her I’m certain she would admit that I teased her on occasion, but I also made sure she always had something she could eat at my house when she visited. My point is this:  Eat what you may.

Now, moving on to my little family. My husband and son are not vegetarians, and I suppose my daughter is not either, although she claims to be one and says she wants to be one. She has never really liked meat, but has quite a healthy love for bacon. As my post says, I also loved bacon and put up a good fight giving it up. Funny thing though, about a month ago, I found I no longer liked the scent of cooking bacon. In all honestly, it now makes me a little queasy.

So, how does my family cope? My truthful answer is they don’t, but allow me to explain. They don’t because there is nothing for which they suffer. They are served meat dishes, but not as often and the choices I make are much more deliberate. Like I say often, I love to cook, so I do not view this as any sort of task. It is a joy.

This is what my family ate last night for dinner:

Roasted chicken with veggies (inside and under the bird).

And this is what I ate last night for dinner:

I just made this up as I went along.

Rice with some gorgeous veggies, raisins,

and cashews spiced with Garam Masala.

I wrote out the recipe so if anyone would like it,

let me know!

No one in this house suffers at meal times.  Although, my son might have words with me about the oatmeal this morning.

Cookbooks!

I am the proud owner of a few new-to-me cookbooks. Rarely do I buy a book new, I prefer them used. Many times I have mentioned that I love old cookbooks. Well, this applies to most books for me – I do love the classics! Old cookbooks seem to have some sort of wisdom about them; something more, something wise and experienced. However, having said all this, have you ever seen a hundred year old vegetarian cookbook? The very idea sets off giggles (it’s a mental picture), but if you see one let me know.

I consider myself a somewhat experienced cook and more often than not, I don’t use a cookbook for my day to day cook-ups. I do use recipes; some I use so often that I no longer need to consult them, but technically I am still using it. Once in a while though, since I do love to cook, and constantly try new things, I need new stock (ha, pun!). Enter: the need to buy some new cookbooks. I bought four! They are all vegetarian cookbooks – that is, all vegetarian recipes. I have no idea if the books themselves eat meat, I didn’t think to ask them.

So far, I’ve used two and drooled on the other two. The Italian-style cookbook is glorious (I made focaccia last night), and I’ve taken to carrying it around the house with me. Soon, I’ll look like a librarian stacking shelves, because I am kinda-sorta carrying around a sewing book at the moment, too. Ok, ok, two sewing books.

So, a few books, I’m wearing my apron, and I most definitely have my tape measure around my neck. The only thing that could complete this vision of Melanie would for me to have my yoga mat unrolled, which it is right now as I type this.

I love my life.

A Walk To Remember

One year ago today I was hit by a car as I walked through a crosswalk. Read here if you’d like a more detailed account. I thought about this as I walked to school to get my daughter – yes, I am still walking to collect her. She doesn’t have anyone to walk home with, and as you’ll read, if you so chose, that one must pass through a rather vicious intersection. So, I walk her to and from school. We love it, but someday sooner than I’d like, she will realize just how un-cool her Mom is and refuse to continue with this arrangement.

All of this came to mind as I walked in the glorious pre-spring sunshine. I hadn’t even realized the significance of the date until I began my walk. I decided to mention it here again, not hoping for sympathy, but to ask a favor. Will you all slow down today, tomorrow, the next day, and the next? If you see a soul in the crosswalk, will you stop and let them pass? Will you help a child across the road? Will you do this with a smile? Will you allow someone to peacefully and safely cross a road and know that they are not there, waiting to get to the other side, because they wish to annoy you or make you late, but they simply happen to be there at the same time as you? Please?

I know I’m passionate about this. Like my other post states, I faired well; I only lost the use of my legs for a short time and miraculously did not break anything, not even my spirit. Others, however, have not faired so well. It breaks my heart. Slow down, that’s all I ask. Thank you, Friends.

Persephone

Although I do not normally post on weekends, I thought I’d log on today and throw out a few updates. I haven’t posted since Thursday, and admittedly, I have disliked jumping online and constantly seeing my last post title. Really, I don’t talk like that!

Yesterday, I went downstairs to my sewing room to do the weekly ironing, and there she was, my dress form, still standing there and still in need of a little tweaking. I did a little dialing up and down, then commenced with the ironing. When I was finished, I took out the tape measure and gave it a try. Woohoo! I finally have a dress form that mimics my actual size! The torso length still needed adjusting, and doing so really helped. I have a long torso, but am not at all tall (think: Scandinavian). So, she is much more proportionate and is ready to get to work.

Also, I went the fabric store yesterday - again! My daughter went to a birthday party and I didn’t think it too wise to drive home for an hour and half, and since I was more than half way there, I decided to wait it out at the fabric store. Genius, no? I stocked up on some machine needles. Every time the notions go on sale – half off – I grab a few packs of universal needles. This time however, I chose some specialized needles. I got some for sewing on delicate fabrics and some for knit. I am going to dive into the world of knits! Gracious me, I can hear my Mom laughing (her laughter was singularly unique). Like I mentioned a while ago, I learned how to sew on silks and velvets, and gorgeous cotton batiste. Knits? Um, no. So, this is new territory for me, but I like traveling in foreign places!

In response to comments:  yes, I do believe I have a name for my dress form. I didn’t think I had until this morning. I just couldn’t come up with something. It absolutely had to be perfect. I looked up a few names; some made me laugh, to be certain. I loved Romilda, but only because it means ‘glorious battle maid.’  I thought of Greek mythology, and tried to find some Goddess for which to name her, then got silly and thought, “why not name her Panthea after all of them?”  I decided against it because it sounds like I am saying “pants” with a lisp. I had latched onto the idea of an older name, archaic even. Philomena, Flora, Constance, Hazel, Persephone? Oh, I love Persephone, and there is that Greek connection again: daughter of Zeus, whose return to Earth symbolized the arrival of spring. Perfect, since that’s the seasonal change we are currently experiencing. It’s also fitting for she was said to be the consort of her abductor, Hades, king of the underworld - my sewing room is in the basement!  Holy cheese and crackers, I’m making myself sick with delight! Yes, I have a winner.  Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Persephone.

Herald of spring and iron queen of the underworld.

Does this make my butt look big?

Ok, I apologize for the post title. I know I usually don’t talk like this, but I am being quite literal here, so I’ll press on regardless. Bear with me.

As I mentioned yesterday, my dress form arrived. I should have known it was going to be an interesting journey because I tripped over the box when I got home that night. Yesterday afternoon, when I was once again in possession of some vigor, I decided I was at least going to take the box down to the sewing room. Well, I got there and found myself with a box cutter in hand. Honestly, I have no memory of making the decision to open the box, but open it I did.

The assembly itself was simple enough and I really didn’t need the directions, but I did read them. I took the sage advice of these directions when it said to once again take body measurements before “dialing” the measurements onto the form. This is where I started to questions things. Ok, let me explain something: People, women in particular, do not spring forth into being from a cookie cutter; we are infinitely unique. Well, dress forms are not. You have to move each little dial and inch or so, and there are four dials for each set of measurements (e.g. hips, waist). You have to literally inch your way to the desired size. BUT! You also have to inch out the rest of the form as you go, or it could create too much tension inside and break. So, inch by inch you dial up, while inching your measurements up somewhere else that doesn’t need inching. I could not get the waist size correct! I had to keep turning the dials while also turning the hip dials, but then, as soon as the waist dials were turned a little more, I could turn the hip dials back down. After an hour, I really got sick of it. I had to walk away for awhile. So, I read the directions again while I made the quintessential cup of tea. Ok, three cups.

Thirty minutes later I returned and began again. I was able to get the measurements fairly close. The directions instructed me to place some clothing on the form to see how things fit. I was to choose something I already wear and knew fit well. I grabbed a dress I love to wear in the summer. The dress was too big on the form. I became a wee bit concerned thinking I had gotten the dials wrong. I measured the form again and the tape measure didn’t seem to be lying. So, I put the dress on my own body. Holy cow, the dress is too big on me! When did this happen? Ok, I’ll deal with that later. I chose a zippy sweater I know fits because I wore it the other day. It seemed to fit the form just fine. I knew the hips on the form might end up being an inch bigger than me, so I was prepared for that. What I wasn’t prepared for however, was what I discovered when I turned the form around to look at the back. OH MY GOSH! She has a huge fanny! Huge: as in grossly disproportionate. I sound so unbelievably rude, but since this is an inanimate object that is technically supposed to be my doppelganger, I assumed it was ok to verbally abuse it.

What had happened was I had adjusted the dials to the point that the back side got a trifle out of shape – downright distorted. I heard myself shout out loud, “Tuck your tailbone in!” Oh my, I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. You see, I hear my yoga teacher say this all the time during class. Of course, it’s tactful and appropriate in that setting as well as necessary, but at this particular moment, that is what came to my mind. Suddenly, I had a mental image of a bunch of yoga students with their tailbones jutting out. Is that what we all look like? I couldn’t help it; dang it, it was funny!

There I was, in my sewing room with my hands on the distorted backside of my Twin Fit dress form thinking about the position of my tailbone in a yoga posture. Sometimes, you just don’t know where the day will take you.

Look, unfinished curtains.  Sigh.

I have “fixed” her to the best of my limited ability, and her fanny is back into an approximation of human form. She weathered my verbal abuse, and is standing at attention waiting to be named, and then stuck with a million little straight pins. What shall I inaugurate her with: crepe, linen, cotton, silk?  Oh, the possibilities!

Simply Simple Soup

Could you live without your Crock Pot? I know I couldn’t. Yesterday morning, as I prepared to leave for the hospital with my sister, I took a peak inside my refrigerator to see what I could toss into the pot: Leeks, carrots, celery, parsnips, and potatoes. The makings of a good soup, said I. I wanted to have something hot for my family when they got home, which was going to be (and was) hours before I returned.

I just really like this picture!

I cut the vegetables into pieces a little larger than bite-size, then put them into the pot. All in all, I used 3 carrots, 3 celery stalks, 1 leek, 2 parsnips, and 3 potatoes. I didn’t have a set number of vegetables; I simply stopped when I thought it looked right. I then poured in 7 cups of stock. For this soup, I used chicken stock because I wasn’t going to be eating it – this was for my family. Normally, I would use vegetable broth ( I don’t eat chicken broth either). After the broth, I stirred in about 2 teaspoons Herbs de Provence (my favorite, favorite herb blend), a little salt and freshly ground pepper, and 2 bay leaves. Then, for the best part of all, I cut off a little chunk of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (maybe a 1 ½ inch chunk) and pushed it down to the bottom of the pot. I turned the pot to the low setting, put on the lid, and then flew out the door.

About 5:00 pm, my husband stirred in some smallish pasta I had pre-measured for him (about a half cup or so). Once the pasta is stirred in, place the lid back on and wait about 20 minutes for it to cook. Remove the bay leaves and any remaining cheese, and serve. Really great with hot bread, but I wasn’t home to cook any, so who knows what they ate with it - probably crackers.

Some of the variations I use for this soup: About 2-3 hours before completion, I will stir in some grains – brown rice, lentils, black-eye peas, wild rice. About this same time, you could also add pre-cooked chicken. If I have leftovers from a roasted chicken I will add this for my family. They especially love rotisserie-style chicken. This is a simple soup with simple ingredients, but amazing flavor. Don’t skip the cheese!

Also, my dress form did arrive yesterday and I have been working on it a little this afternoon. Holy cats, there is a story to tell now! Hopefully, I can regale you all with my sewing room antics tomorrow. Have a glorious evening!

Grease!

This is a personal favorite, this one! This is one of those things I use, but have no clue why, where, how, what, etc., etc. All I can remember is that I have been using this stuff for most of forever.

Eons ago, I made wedding cakes. I owned a little business and baked, decorated, and delivered wedding cakes on the weekends. It wasn’t a huge operation, just me earning a little mad money. I also taught others how to decorate cakes. It was fun at the time, and I enjoyed meeting new people. This was when my kids were very young. But, honestly, I got a trifle burnt out dealing with brides all the time. I don’t know how my sister does it, she deals with them day in day out, and never seems to loose enthusiasm for business. She owns a couture wedding gown shop – have a look if you’re so inclined, I don’t think she’d mind.

Back to the baking: When I was making and baking day in day out, I got a little tired of the grease-and-flour routine for the bake ware. So, here is what I came up with. I said I love this, right?

Pan Grease

1 ¼ cup solid vegetable shortening
¼ cup liquid vegetable oil
¼ cup all-purpose flour

Over low heat, place the shortening and oil in a small saucepan. Stir until it begins to melt, then whisk in the flour. Continue stirring until completely melted and combined. Store mixture in an airtight container. No need to refrigerate. Apply with a pastry brush.

Now, for a few pointers:  It is good to stir this before each use, but you don't have to unless it has been a while since the last use.  I use a silicon pastry brush (see picture). They clean well and you don’t end up with little fibers in your food from other brushes. Also, this is, hands down, the most fabulous option for bake ware with little grooves and patterns. Ever use a Bundt pan? Yeah, you know what I mean now, don’t you? You can get the brush right into those little spaces and your baked good will just pop right out! It’s amazing! I use it all the time for just about every baking application, even breads. It makes my baking life easier, and it is tidy. Give it a try, and tell me what you think.

Dress Form

Guess what I bought? It’s something for my sewing room. It’s something for me. It’s something completely necessary for the survival of my ever evolving sewing education.

Mine is like the gray one, second from right.

When it arrives, I'll probably do something precious to it

like this person, who added some bling. 

I'll probably put a scarf on it.

And a hat.

Picking one was problematic. There are gaps between the standard sizes, so I couldn’t get one that can be customized precisely unless I have one custom-made (nope).  I will have to settle for slightly larger hips (by an inch) but I figure I can see what I would look like if I had curvy hips! I’m smart enough and confident enough with my sewing that an inch will not affect the fit – I’m not going for couture here, I leave that to my capable sister. Besides, I do not EVER wear tight clothing, nor do I like tightly fitted clothing (yes, there is a difference). Plainly stated, I like to be comfortable.

Although Mother Nature saw fit to sprinkle another six inches of snow last night, I’m excited for spring and the return of dress wearing weather. I know, I’ve said numerous times that I love dresses. As I wait for this new batch of snow to melt, I will be sewing up some loveliness and fitting it properly on my new dress form.

Two last items: First, I went to the fabric store last Saturday. Yes, again! That makes three times last week, which I assure you, it a lot. I decided to go to a different store, one I do not frequently visit. I really needed something divine, and I found it. White embroidered linen that made me stop breathing – or at least a sharp intake of breath that caused a mild squeak. It was 50% off, too! The lady at the cutting counter said she believed it to be the most beautiful fabric they currently had in the store. I didn’t need any validation for my purchase, but still, it was nice to hear. Also, I got a spring-green (think water sprite) bamboo crepe. Bamboo! Bamboo! I know, I typed it twice, but that’s how fabulous it is. I’m giddy with anticipation.

Lastly, I need to name my dress form when she arrives. Yes, it is a need. I just cannot refer to her as dress form.  She needs a name, so if you can think of a fabulous name, let me know. She is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, which is also the day of my sister’s surgery for her cancer removal. I don’t think I will get a chance to put her together and snap a photo until the following week, but please send name suggestions anyway.

And on that note, I do not know what next week will hold for me.  My sister is not married, and so I will gladly be at the hospital all day waiting, waiting, waiting. I write all this to inform you, dear readers, that my posts will be erratic and most likely sparse throughout next week. Time will tell.

A lovely weekend to you all.

Thai Red Curry

Last week, I mentioned that I had made some red curry. I really cannot get enough curry in my diet, which is great considering that food rarely tastes good to me anymore (no worries, I’m not ill). I make my curries with tofu that I pre-cook in a separate fry pan in a little oil. You might notice, since I say I don’t eat meat, that I have included fish sauce in the recipe. I do eat some fish, although rather unfortunately, the list is getting shorter (last Sunday, I ate some Cod that destroyed me). Fish sauce is an anchovy extract, and so far, it doesn’t bother my system so I use it. If you do not eat fish, then use an additional ¾ - 1 tsp. salt. DO NOT use soy sauce instead of fish sauce – far too salty! If you’re a meat eater, then you can add pre-cooked chicken instead of the tofu. My little family is half carnivorous, half herbaceous, so to accommodate a dinner such as this, I make it in one big pan up to the addition of the tofu/chicken, then split the sauce into another pan then add the meat and tofu to their respective pans then finish the recipe. I’m used to it, so it’s not at all a bother. I serve traditional jasmine rice along side. Here is the recipe I used:

Red Curry

2 Tbsp. sesame oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tsp. red curry paste (has some heat, but add more if you want it hot)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 c. coconut milk
1 c. vegetable broth
2 Tbsp. fish sauce
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
½ tsp. salt
1 zucchini, sliced into half moon shapes
1 red pepper, julienned
12 oz. pkg. tofu, cubed and pre-cooked (I don’t use the entire pkg. of tofu)
2 Tbsp. cornstarch mixed with 2 Tbsp. water
4 large fresh basil leaves, finely sliced (optional, but oh so worth it)

Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat; add onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add the curry paste and the garlic, stir constantly for a minute or so. Add the coconut milk, vegetable broth, fish sauce, sugar, and salt; bring to a boil. Add red peppers and zucchini; reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10-12 minutes. Add the tofu and simmer for an additional 5-6 minutes. Add the cornstarch paste and stir continuously until the curry thickens. Stir in the basil. Serve with jasmine rice.

Oh yummy!

Potato Bread

It’s white, it’s fluffy, it’s squishy - it’s my potato bread! This is bread that tastes so good hot, that not much of it makes it to the rack to cool - it just melts in the mouth! Most of the bread I make these days is some sort of whole wheat or some other whole grain, or my family’s favorite sourdough, but once in a while my son will request this bread.

Oh, the anticipation!

It’s great to make when you’ve had mashed potatoes the night before and have leftovers, but I usually just peel and boil a few potatoes as I prepare the other ingredients and equipment. This recipe comes from an older cookbook, so it needed some updating for the century I live in. Also, I have been working on the weight measurements (as opposed to Imperial volumes). I find I just get better results if I take the time to get the weights right. This morning, I think I have finally stepped onto the doorstep! Please keep in mind, as always, that I live at high altitude (about 4800 ft) so you might need to adjust for your elevation. Here is the recipe:

6 oz. hot mashed potatoes (I use a ricer)
8 oz. boiling water
1 oz. shortening
1.5 oz. sugar
.5 oz. kosher salt
.30 yeast
2 oz. lukewarm water
18-22 oz. all-purpose flour

Stir together potatoes and water until there are no lumps (which is why I use a ricer). Add the shortening, sugar, and salt; stir well and allow to cool to lukewarm. Stir yeast into the remaining water and once dissolved, add to the other mixture. Gradually stir in the flour. I start with 18 oz. then continue until I have a soft dough. The amount of flour I personally use changes with the weather since flour absorbs more water in the winter, therefore I need a little less right now. Knead for about 5 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning to coat the sides. Cover, and allow to rise until doubled in bulk. Turn out onto counter and split in two. Shape into loaves, giving special attention to pulling down the sides of each loaf, thus creating some good surface tension. Place in greased loaf tins. Allow to rise again until double, about an hour. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Turn out of pans immediately and allow to cool enough until you just can’t stand it, then do whatever you want with it. I won’t tell anyone if you eat it hot, just don’t burn yourself!

Hot bread dripping with butter has got to be one of the best pleasures in the world, but if by some miracle it lasts beyond baking day, it does keep wonderfully well without drying.

Long Day

A Smoothie

1 banana
1 c. plain yogurt
1 c. orange juice
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
Sugar if you need it

Blend, blend, blend.

I love this.

I'll write something more tomorrow.  It's been a mighty long day and I need to find a yoga mat.

Toilet Cleaning

Toilets: we all have them, and we all need to clean them. You should know by now that I do not buy nor use commercial household cleaning products; I maketh mine own (Read here to see how I scrub the rest of the bathroom). Toilet cleaning, however, does not require that I make anything; I clean with a few simple items already in the house. I do have a few methods, and I alternate between them, but here is how I start things off:

First, I flush the toilet then wait for the water to stop filling. This wets everything down inside. Next, I pour some Borax into my hand (you can use baking soda, too) and sprinkle it all over inside the bowl, and then some into the standing water – all in all, about a half cup. Leave the seat up, put out a sign – whatever - just make certain your household is aware that it should not be used, then walk away for a few hours. The Borax needs time to work its magic by dissolving the mineral build-up. This is great to do overnight, just remember that you’ll need to scrub the toilet first thing in the morning, which I personally do not enjoy at 5 am. Regardless, after a few hours, simply scrub the surfaces with a toilet brush then flush. When the water stops filling, take the lid off the tank and pour in about a cup of white vinegar, then flush again. The vinegar will neutralize the Borax and also sanitize the holes the water passes through. That’s it; you’re done.

As an alternative to the vinegar, I will use several drops of Tea Tree essential oil. This stuff is powerfully strong! The bathroom will smell of Tea Tree for hours, but it is a clean scent. I’ve also been known to use lavender essential oil; don’t ask, just accept me as I am.

One last and very useful item: do you ever think about cleaning your toilet brush? You really should consider doing this for reasons I’ll let you figure out all by yourself. Fill a bucket (I save ice cream buckets for such things) with some hot water. Pour in either vinegar or Tea tree oil (or a little of both, or my personal favorite for this task: Thyme oil, but only a single drop) then plunge the brush into the water and allow to sit for a while. If it’s not freezing, I place the bucket outside on my deck, otherwise I put it on my garage floor. This keeps the bucket out of way; I don’t have to smell it and it is less likely to get kicked over. I’ll allow it to sit for a few hours, sometimes overnight, but only when I forget about it, which happens a lot! Afterward, give it a quick rinse.

Oh, the glamorous life I lead.