Over the Kitchen Counter: Angie's Place for Cooking and Crafts

DWR Progress: The Home Stretch!

I considered naming this post "Making Progress Yet Getting No Where" because I have been stitching and stitching the arcs on my Double Wedding Ring quilt and still everywhere I looked I saw unquilted fabric. However, I finally did get through all 192 arcs (or whatever number it was) and have moved on to the microstippling between the feathers in the blocks.

I was surprised that the small stippling was going so quickly. I 'only' had 42 blocks to do and knocked out the first row in a flash. I figure I can do a row or so a day so I should be nearing the end of this quilting in a week or two. I'm taking many breaks as the concentration and posture needed for this work is killing my shoulders and neck. I think I may even pause to make the bias binding, something I've been dreading for some reason since the beginning. Now it might actually be a welcome change from the intense micro design.

I think the texture of the quilt will be perfect for a king bed - kind of dense and heavy. This quilt won't be slipping off one side of the bed or the other and I think it's going to look fantastic when done. I still haven't figured out how I'm going to wash it; I have one more laundromat to visit to check the size of machines. It's going to take a leap of faith to add my treasured labour of love to a small washing drum and hope it comes out in one piece.

So I am making progress and getting somewhere. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I'm pretty excited to wrap this project up. I think my double wedding ring will be on our bed before our 25th anniversary (that's a whole year and a half away) so I guess that's good. In a way it will be sad to see it finished...nah! It'll be great to have accomplished such a big goal - making a king sized, fancy patterned quilt from start to finish on my domestic sewing machine.

And just because I'm so proud, I want to show you a pic of my best-yet mitred corner from the Frozen quilt. To me, it's a thing of beauty since I've struggled with those darn binding corners for 3 years!

Texas Red Chili

Just in time for Super Bowl, I tried a new recipe in my Dutch oven...Texas Red Chili. Apparently, in Texas, Texas Red is made with beef and never contains beans. This is a new concept for me but I was willing to try because it sounded so good.

The recipe calls for beef chuck cut into 1" pieces, not ground meat. I used premium stew beef since nothing here is labelled 'chuck'. (I asked the meat lady at the store and she recommended the stew beef). It is browned in oil and then removed from the pot then onions, jalapeno, and garlic are cooked until translucent. Next you add a whole lot of chili powder - 1/2 a cup! (I only made half a batch so used 1/4 cup). Pureed tomatoes and water are added to make the sauce and the browned meat returned to the pot. The Texas Red Chili simmers for 2-1/2 to 3 hours and cooks down into a dark and rich dish.

Hubby and I totally loved this recipe and even though it didn't represent 'chili' to me, it was great as its own version and I will definitely make it again. I'll admit I missed the beans but the hearty, spicy (flavourful, bold, but not mouth-burning) Texas Red was so tasty that after we were done we kept talking about how good it was! I just keep getting hit after hit with this One Pot cookbook so I am very happy I bought it. We've been eating well!

Time Flies when you're playing Trivia Crack!

It's amazing how fast last week went. I spent Monday and Tuesday shopping, cleaning, and finishing up the Frozen 2 quilt. Wednesday was a write-off waiting for a delivery. And waiting. And waiting. Despite the 'heads up one hour notification call' during the wide open delivery window of 8 am to 6 pm, the truck was almost two hours later than that. I was not a happy camper as I feel obligated to be at the ready to hear the doorbell and never get anything done, like sewing. Not to mention they just dumped a 220 pound treadmill in my freezing cold garage and refused to take it into the house. They claimed that required an extra man (and money) but I am disputing this with the store armed with the delivery details supporting my request, as written on their website. In the end, hubby and son took it all apart and moved it themselves. It's a beautiful treadmill and I'm very pleased. The old one pales by comparison and at 16+ years old, it didn't owe us anything. It took less than 2 hours sitting at the end of the driveway before someone came and snapped it up for free.

Although I still had Thursday and Friday with my mother out-of-town, son and daughter were home instead. The plan of working on my Double Wedding Ring quilt again (on hold since late November) got sidetracked and instead I purged and organized files dating back a decade. Obviously, this chore was long overdue and going through all the documents takes quite a bit of time. I also had to shred sensitive papers one sheet at a time in my little home office shredder. Three full bags later, I had definitely thinned out the folders and even though I have so much more room in my filing cabinet, and added a new one for manuals, I didn't actually gain any new usable floor space. I feel good getting that out of the way and saving my kids from dealing with an over-the-top history of paperwork when I'm gone!

Going through the file box of manuals and warranties was actually a worthwhile exercise. I was able to throw out a few things related to items we no longer even have, as well as discover some tips for appliances we still use. I found a recipe section in the mixer manual (previously filed because who needs instructions for a hand mixer!) and there are a few I'm going to try. I started with garlic mashed potatoes, simple enough to make by eye, but nice to have a recipe for inspiration and proportions. They were delicious! The key is to not beat them on high speed or for very long so they don't turn into glue. There's an Overnight Sausage and Egg Brunch recipe that looks yummy too! Stay tuned...

The other thing that sucked up our time was challenging each other to Trivia Crack games. Have you tried this app yet? Oh my gosh, it is appropriately named. You play against each other to answer questions in 6 subjects: art, entertainment, geography, history, science, and sports. Three correct answers gives you a crown and you need one for each category. If you are a competitive person you will enjoy displaying your knowledge of all that is trivial...and you'll waste a lot of time doing it. Trust me!

Bodum Electric Juicer

The other kitchen item that is wearing out on me is the old Braun electric juicer, which used to belong to my mother and I think was bought waaaay back in the 70s! It also still works but the plastic gears have broken here and there and I can definitely hear something rattling around inside the motor. It doesn't have much ooomph left when juicing and I fear it is on its last legs.

It just so happens that when I was paying for the new garlic press (see yesterday's post) the store had a funky Bodum juicer displayed on sale for half price. Since I knew I would never pay $100 for an electric citrus juicer (the original price), but would probably have to pay $40+ for a basic discount store model, I thought a fancy European version for $49 was a pretty good deal!

I have used the Bodum French Press coffee makers for years so I know it's a good company. I love the cool lime green colour of the machine and matching included juice glasses. Yes it was an impulse buy but once I got it home and gave it a try I was quite impressed and excited. The machine is much heavier in weight and power than my little countertop Braun and is quiet and easy to use. 

Here is the description of the juicer on the website: (you can watch a video too!)

A glass of fresh juice in the morning is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself. That is just one of the many reasons you're going to want the BISTRO for. First, the BISTRO sits higher than other juicers so you can finally fit more than a thimble-sized glass under your juicer. Now you can enjoy a nice tall glass of juice; you can never get too much of a good thing, right? Another good reason: a drip-stop that keeps the juice from dripping all over your kitchen counter and making a sticky mess. And finally, there is the cyclone function. No more letting all that good pulp go to waste. After juicing your oranges and grapefruit, put the lid on the juicer and press down on it; every last bit of juice is squeezed out of the pulp at high speed. We wouldn't want you missing out on those extra vitamins. The BISTRO Electric Juicer is made from plastic, silicone and stainless steel.

I love that the unit has a spout so the juice pours right in your glass. Another awesome feature is the cyclone pulp extractor. By simply pressing down on the lid after juicing, the pulp is spun at a higher speed to extract every last bit of juice. Also, there is no way seeds can get into the juice. With my old model I had to pour from the bowl and usually seeds and clumpy pulp fell into the glass. This is so much better! We love fresh orange and grapefruit juice in the morning so there is no doubt we will make use of this new machine. It looks great on the counter, too. I'm still keeping the old one for juicing a single lemon for cake or a lime for a cocktail but for juicing larger quantities of citrus this Bodum is an excellent choice.

By the way, we figured that it takes about 3 small juice oranges per person for a decent service (1/2 - 3/4 of a cup of fresh juice). It works out to a slightly higher price than premium not-for-concentrate store-bought juice (e.g. Simply Orange). It is a splurge to have fresh-squeezed but it just tastes so darn fresh and good. There is no acidity at all and the flavour is fantastic. For a weekend treat, it's worth it...

Kuhn Rikon Easy-Clean Garlic Press

I have had my old Brabantia garlic press since I first left home and the poor thing has split at the seams on the handle and started to rust. It still works to mince garlic but I felt it was time to look for a new one. That is the problem as you age...stuff wears out and needs to be replaced!

I can't get the Brabantia brand locally and even though I really love how their products have lasted, I decided to just grab a new press at the fancy kitchen supply store in town. I asked for the best model they had and the clerk recommended the Kuhn Rikon brand. This is a Swiss company (Brabantia is Dutch) and I have always appreciated the quality and design of products from that country. In fact, Kuhn Rikon is the #1 Swiss brand of cookware and cooks' tools. The Easy-Clean press was CDN$22.95 so not exactly inexpensive in comparison to what you could pick up in the mass discount chains. If it lasts as long as my old one though, and performs well without aggravation, it is money well spent.

The first time I tried it I was not disappointed. I actually prefer it to my old one because the award-winning design of the press requires even less force and cleanup is so easy. The beveled holes cut finely instead of crushing (which can lead to bitter or stronger garlic, apparently) and it is easy to grip and squeeze. Although it is dishwasher safe, hand wash and dry is recommended. I think that is how my old garlic press started to show its age - the heat of the dishwasher is probably not a good thing. I definitely plan to gently wash and immediately dry this tool so it doesn't rust and stays sharp. It was super easy to clean since the sieve part flips open and can be rinsed clear under the tap. I love that it is attached too since I was always digging around the drawer looking for the insert on my Brabantia model.

We cook with a lot of garlic so having an easy-to-use and clean garlic press for the times I don't want to chop with a knife is a must. The opening is really large on this new one and I can easily fit whole cloves of garlic in there without halving them first like I used to (I LOVE that! No touching!). For the past year or so I have been buying the larger Spanish garlic so I am very happy with my new, bigger press.

First Steps to free-motion quilting

Christina Cameli is one of the newest Craftsy instructors and her class The Secrets of Free-Motion Quilting is one of my favourites. Christina shares some easy quilting designs and many tips to make the process smooth and fun. She has a wonderful manner - calm and encouraging (maybe that's because she's a mid-wife as well!). Of course I wanted to get her book to supplement the class and First Steps to free-motion quilting is yet another great addition to my library.

Christina divides her book into two: the first explains the necessities, the basics, tips & techniques, and designs. The second contains the instructions for 24 projects to get you started learning, practicing, and using your new skills. They range from small projects like cushions and bags to larger (but still simple) quilts, clothing, and decor items. Lots to experiment with!

I love Stash books in general for their smooth, heavy paper, great photography, and easy to handle size. This one provides great encouragement for the new quilter and fun ideas and inspiration for all quilters. Christina Cameli has a second book coming out any day now and I pre-ordered it ages ago so I'm super excited to receive it in the mailbox. (I kind of love pre-ordering now because it's like getting a surprise present delivered unexpectedly!) I would totally recommend Christina's class and/or first book if you want some gentle guidance to introduce you to free-motion quilting on your domestic sewing machine or if you are needing to learn some modern, free-hand, NO marking quilting designs. 

Frozen 2 Quilt Done!

I finished up Frozen 2 in great time. The quilting went much faster, easier, and neater the second time around. Too bad we can't make all quilts in duplicate to work out all the problems on the first! I learned well from the initial experience and achieved better results by starting from the centre of the quilt and working my way out. I didn't get the horrible puckers and puffs I did on the first and I was able to quilt in each section after securing with stitch-in-the-ditch work.

I used my Blue Bobbin Holder (a lower tension holder for free-motion quilting and hand-look stitches) with monopoly thread in the top and blue cotton thread in the bobbin. Excellent results! It is such a joy when you hit the magic adjustments for tension and speed and I was able to get amazing stitch quality this time around. I did the same quilting as for Frozen 1: outline features in panel, straight lines in the borders, echoing around the snowflakes. Fast and easy when you have a plan!

Hubby built up the wood stacks I use to raise my tables and now I have them up to 36" for cutting. It worked very well and is a very comfortable height for me to cut, press, and trim my quilts. With the scraps trimmed off the Frozen quilt sandwich I whipped off a couple of straps to tie up each quilt. I used my 1600 at top speed (that machine is SO fast!) and in about 1.34 minutes I had lovely ties from would-be trash. The girls really liked them.

I am glad those two quilts are done and delivered. They were an unexpected 2-month interruption in my quilting schedule but totally worth the effort as both girls seem happy and proud to have hand-made tributes to their much-loved movie. Now back to my Double Wedding Ring!

Hawaii Collection by O.P.I.

O.P.I. recently announced their gorgeous Spring/Summer 2015 Collection inspired by Hawaii. There are 12 new shades that will be available next month (February 2015) and I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at a few of them.

This new collection features a palette ranging from muted tones of mint, peach, pink and nude to bolder hues of coral, green, purple and gold to deep tones of mauve, violet, brick red and shimmery blue. There is a shade for every occasion and preference. Here is a list of the always-cute names and colours:

That’s Hula-rious! (pastel mint green)

My Gecko Does Tricks (bright and pearly green)

Do You Take Lei Away? (creamy nude)

Is Mai Tai Crooked? (orange crème)

Go with the Lava Flow (golden red)

Aloha from OPI (bright creamy coral)

Suzi Shops & Island (light pink)

Just Lanai-ing Around (dark, creamy mauve)

Hello Hawaii (dusky purple)

This Color’s Making Waves (shimmery, lagoon blue)

Lost My Bikini (reef-inspired purple)

Pineapples Have Peelings Too! (gold shimmer with colorful sparkle)

February is right around the corner and I am totally dreaming about sun and sand already. Wouldn't a little escape to the islands be a welcome change from the snow, ice, and cold temps of the north??? (Well, at least my nails can have a trip to Hawaii!).

The new colours are available starting February 4th at salons and spas...that's not too long to wait! The samples I received are That’s Hula-rious!, Do You Take Lei Away? (both shown below on DD's manis), and This Color’s Making Waves, which I'm trying next! They are stunning polishes and they always go on so smoothly with great coverage. I don't have a lot of time to fuss with my polish application so being able to do two fast coats with O.P.I.'s great brush (the exclusive ProWide Brush) is awesome. Daughter loved the shades she tried and got many compliments on both. Both of us really love the nude - it's such a perfect colour (not too orange, not too grey), especially on my very short-at-the-moment nails. Hope you enjoyed this look at the upcoming collection!

 

 

Chicken and Dumplings

The first recipe I had to try from the One Pot cookbook I shared yesterday was Chicken and Dumplings. It's the second recipe in the book (I would have made the first, Beef Stew with Noodles but I didn't have the meat on hand). I am a sucker for dumplings and I just happened to have all the ingredients ready to go.

I couldn't quite believe that the whole meal only required 20 minutes active time and 45 total. The chicken stew is made right in the pot on the stove top and is super easy: carrots, onion, & celery sauteed until translucent and then a sauce is created with flour and broth. Add the chicken and fresh green beans and the stew is done.

The dumplings take about 5 seconds to whip up (butter cut into a flour mixture and milk stirred in to make a dough). They cook/steam on top of the stew for 12 minutes and dinner is on the table. I served some crusty ciabatta buns on the side but they weren't really necessary. The flavour of the Chicken & Dumplings was amazing and the only thing I would add next time is perhaps some couscous to soak up the delicious gravy. Two thumbs way up for this dinner - so simple and fast to make, all in one pot. My results looked exactly like the photo as well, always a good sign. By the way, the photographs in the cookbook are very appetizing and truly make me want to cook every recipe right now.

One Pot/Dutch Oven Cookbooks

I figured if I bought myself that fancy Dutch oven I should use it...a lot! Of course, I needed some new recipes to make and I found One Pot, from the kitchens of Martha Stewart Living. This beautiful book has 120+ easy recipes made in (you guessed it), one pot - either a skillet, slow cooker, stockpot or Dutch oven. Not only would I be getting great ideas on how to use my new investment cookware but I already love my crock pot and skillet and could totally use some new inspiration!

The recipes are divided into chapters based on type of pot, as well as a last section filled with desserts. (They ALL look sooooo good!!!). There is an explanation of each piece of equipment, along with the basics, cooking tips, and care instructions - I love that. The meals look so comforting and tasty; the ingredients are fresh and accessible and the techniques are simple. I can tell that there will be a lot of slow-food cooking going on in my house over the next few chilly months!

Since I was already ordering and wanted to take advantage of free shipping, I added in a Dutch oven-dedicated cookbook as well. Aptly named, The Dutch Oven Cookbook by Sharon Kramis & Julie Kramis Hearne, also provides many hearty recipes for soups, sides, appetizers, main dishes, accompaniments, and desserts. There are a few in this volume I know I will not be making, such as Slow-Roasted Pheasant or Roasted Mussels, but I am totally game for Slow-Roasted Melting Pot Roast or Maple Glazed Roasted Root Vegetables. The soups and chowders look amazing and I'm pretty sure I'll be making Apple Brown Betty by the end of the week!

There is just something so warm and comforting about a slow-simmering stew or pot of steaming homemade soup on the stove top. I am so happy I bought my new Dutch oven and I have made two fantastic meals already in as many days. I will share those in the next post. They were a huge hit and we are eating the leftovers tonight. Hubby has already marked the page with the recipe he wants me to make next and I am going to make a soup tonight to last for a week of lunches. Stay tuned and be prepared to salivate!