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

Straws

Straws have been in the news lately as several companies are banning the plastic variety from their establishments and cities are pledging to eliminate them altogether. I read that almost 80% of litter in oceans is made up of plastic and straws contribute to that total. There is that viral video showing a poor sea turtle with a straw stuck up his nose and that became a wake up call for countries of the world, leading to an awareness of the problem and the need for action.

I'm not a big straw consumer to begin with but do use them occasionally, at restaurants, in cocktails or milkshakes. I am certainly more aware now and will no longer accept them. At home, I have had a stainless steel straw for about 3 years. I purchased it from a health food store (very inexpensive) and keep it in my cup for middle-of-the-night water sips when I'm too asleep to try to find the drink in the darkness!

The stainless steel straw is permanent. It is easily washed and works as it should; mine has the bend at the top and if a straw is needed, this one suits the bill. I suppose if one had to take the metal straw on the road for some reason (disability, teeth sensitivity, etc.) it could be a little messy but I imagine you could tuck it in a bag or make a little fabric pouch for it.

Anyway, it is good to raise awareness about the problem and eliminating straws from my life is an easy way I can help contribute to the solution. I do have an old box of straws in my kitchen drawer and am not sure what to do with them now. They cannot be recycled and the garbage bin means they end up in the landfill.

CRAFTSY Classes Under $20 this Weekend!

Just a heads up that Craftsy is offering all classes under $20 bucks this weekend!

It's been a while since I posted about Craftsy and there are literally THOUSANDS of classes now to choose from. It is amazing how this platform has exploded since the early days and you can learn on-line about a zillion subjects from incredible instructors.

You can browse through the course list HERE to see what you want to learn next!

Frittatas

I happened to catch an episode of Martha Stewart's 'cooking lessons' show and it was featuring egg recipes. The first was for a simple fried egg on toast and I thought it looked very appetizing! Next was a potato and onion frittata and that looked even better! As I had a leftover boiled potato in the fridge it would be ideal for my lunch. I remembered how much I like Martha and back in the day, I learned so much from her. Even though she has had her issues and some people do not enjoy her as much as I, it is still with such appreciation and fondness that I always will stop and watch, listen, and yes, continue to learn from Ms. Martha!

So...here is my frittata! I have made them in the past but usually I baked the dish in the oven for 'x' minutes. Martha suggests cooking and setting the eggs (and flavourful fillings) on a low heat on the stovetop and then finishing under the broiler for only a minute or two. The frittata should then turn a light golden brown and actually puff up with the direct heat. Mine did just that!

The addition of cheese (I used feta) and a sprinkle of freshly grated parmesan before going into the pre-heated broiler was a wonderful touch and the frittata was perfect. I love how Martha will never shy from sharing very simple and basic recipes and methods with her viewers/readers. The love of amazing dishes starts with the appreciation of fresh, quality ingredients. They don't have to be prepared in a fancy way to be absolutely incredible.

Here is a link for the video from the Martha Stewart website on the formula for foolproof frittatas. Worth a watch if you want to brush up on your skills and make a delicious and quick breakfast, brunch, lunch or even dinner...

https://www.marthastewart.com/1129210/formula-foolproof-frittatas

WOW! Craftsy UNLIMITED!!!

Have you heard about Craftsy Unlimited? This is an amazing new way to watch ALL the Craftsy classes you ever wanted, as many and as often as you'd like. Like having an all access VIP pass, once you have your subscription in place you can click on any tutorial you desire. There's nothing to lose by trying something new or checking out a new craft or cooking class to see how you like it. That to me is the best part - expanding your learning and experiencing something you might not have before without any extra cost or investment.

Here are some benefits to having every Craftsy class, plus new and exclusive video tutorials, at your fingertips...

• New and exclusive content released weekly
• 600+ of the world's top creative experts
• Join a community of 13 million other makers
• Access from any device, anywhere, anytime
• 1,300 expert taught classes

"Dive into thousands of hours of expert taught videos and bring your best ideas to life. Whether you love stitches, swatches, pasta or paint, you'll never be without a source of inspiration."

Still not sure? I'm excited to share that you can try it with this 7 DAY FREE TRIAL!!!

Of course, I still have access to all the classes I'm already registered in, but there have been so many cool releases that I have yet to check out. I am really liking the idea of signing up once and then being able to just click on any class I want. My yearly subscription to QNNtv is now over and I know I will make much better use of Craftsy Unlimited. Now that I'm back into quilting (that first set gorgeous ombre fabric for the Color Crystals quilt is now cut and ready to stitch!!!) I really want to sign up for some new machine quilting classes. Angela Walters has one and so does Christina Cameli so those are first on my to-watch list!

Craftsy All-You-Can-Watch Day

Hey, this is really cool and different. On Labour Day (Monday, September 4th), Craftsy is letting us watch ALL online Craftsy classes for FREE! From 12:01 am to 11:59 pm on Monday we can stream all 1,200+ classes for free. What a great way to check out those classes that you were on the fence about or just try out something completely new and different.

I know the first one I'm going to watch is the new Angela Walters Dot to Dot class. I already own her former Dot to Dot course so I want to compare before I buy the new one. Also, there is a Calligraphy class I've been eyeing and I can't wait to see what it's all about. Now that I've been journaling for a couple years it would be nice to add some pretty penmanship to the pages.

You can get to Craftsy's All-You-Can-Watch Day by using THIS LINK on Monday. All you have to do is enter your email address! Have fun exploring all the great classes!

Make Even More from Your Pressure Cooker

I frequently check out the NEWEST CRAFTSY CLASSES and they always seem to be on the 'cutting edge' of what's current. Not only that, I feel like they have a window into my life because Craftsy never fails to mirror exactly what I'm currently focusing on! (Maybe that means I'M on the cutting edge too!!). Once again, I was delighted to discover the Make Even More from Your Pressure Cooker class. Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough share pasta, seafood, grain, breakfast, and dessert ideas in this fun and recipe-filled series of lessons aimed at getting plenty of use from your pressure cooker.

I hadn't realized that this is the second class from this pair of chefs so I must have missed the first offering, Make the Most of Your Pressure Cooker. Both classes are currently ON SALE! I really like that the guys demonstrate on both a stovetop cookers and electric models, including my Instant Pot. I love when instructors are using the tools or machines that I'm using - it makes it super easy to follow along.

I was anxious to try out several of the recipes right away and just had to start with the good ole' mac and cheese. Their version is made with 4 different cheeses and is out of this world delish. It's more like my traditional mac and cheese compared with the 'quick and easy' one I shared in THIS POST and you can even add a yummy cheese and breadcrumb topping and quickly broil it in the oven (it just requires transferring the pasta to an oven-safe dish).

I have already gone out and bought all the ingredients to make a steamed Christmas pudding. I have ALWAYS wanted to make one but was totally intimidated with the steaming part. In a pressure cooker, it will be a breeze...and FAST! The recipe from the class is so easy too, made with simple dried fruits and a quick batter. I will definitely let you know how it goes!

My recent posts have hopefully conveyed my love for the Instant Pot and I hope if you have one you are using it too! This class is a great addition to Craftsy. If you're new to pressure cooking, check out Make the Most of Your Pressure Cooker and if you're ready to move on, Make Even More from Your Pressure Cooker could be just what you're looking for.

Hip Pressure Cooking

The majority of the recipes I've been using in my Instant Pot pressure cooker are from Laura Pazzaglia, whether from the included booklet that came with my cooker, her Hip Pressure Cooking website, or the wonderful cookbook I purchased, Hip Pressure Cooking. Laura has some great videos and has even launched a Pressure Cooking School series on her site. (I wish I'd found that right from the get-go!). She truly knows her stuff and has done all the research and testing for us pressure cooker users. (Thank you, Laura!). She is a delightful presenter too!

I love the Hip Pressure Cooking cookbook because Laura explains the 'whys' so that we truly learn the process and reasons behind the results when using a pressure cooker. Having that knowledge allows the reader to interpret other recipes and adapt them to this kind of cooking. I like to understand why I'm doing something and not just be told to do it.

The book is an excellent reference for cooking times, techniques, purchasing and caring for a pressure cooker, no matter which brand you buy or use. There are so many charts for dealing with different kinds of foods and ingredients, and a wonderful opening chapter about accessories, safety, and other very useful information. The recipes are straight-forward and offer suggestions for variations and adjustments based on the type of cooker you are using. If you want to venture into this amazing world of pressure cooking (and I totally think you should!!), I HIGHLY recommend picking up this book. It's a hard cover book with lovely paper and super recipes along with all that instructional material. I have checked it every time I've used my pot, even if I'm preparing my own recipe, to make sure I'm doing it right or to get guidance regarding cook-time or pressure release method.

I have only had one failure (so far!) in the Instant Pot and it was with the Yogurt Cake recipe. The cake looked great when I took it from the cooker and although I did use a toothpick to test for doneness, cook's error...I didn't pierce the cake deeply enough. When I inverted the cake the edges were cooked but the centre was still batter. At that point the cake was out of the pan and it was too late to pressure cooker longer. Lesson learned. The circumference of the cake was delicious, I might add, and hubs ate it all up! We just didn't get a whole cake!

Definitely check out Laura's website as it has so much further information about pressure cooking. There are recipes galore to try and the Hip Pressure Cooking school lessons are very helpful.

Know Your Machine

I'm so excited because I'm attending a 'know your machine' class for my Bernina. Although I'm really familiar with all the features and have been sewing away happily on this beautiful sewing machine, I'm always up for free classes and the reading material that comes with it. I'm certainly open to learning new things, tips, tricks and instructors always have something to add to one's knowledge!

I am a quilter and don't really do much utility stitching. I think the class goes through topics like buttonholes and various feet that I wouldn't usually use so I could definitely use some coaching in those departments. Apparently there is a binder given with resource material that I can reference in the future. I figure if I didn't attend the class I would be missing out on a valuable part of the purchase price - and it should be fun! I will meet other Bernina users and enjoy a few hours out (the classes are 4 hours long and there are two). The times happened to work out perfectly with my schedule too, which is jam packed and crazy for the next 5 weeks!

 

Superior Thread Therapy with Dr. Bob

I was delighted to receive a gift bag of thread samples from Superior Threads as part of my Handi Quilter Sweet 16 purchase. It was like a surprise gift since I wasn't aware it was included! I am already a customer and big fan of Superior since I use So Fine and Bottom Line threads when quilting on my frame.

The swag bag contained big cones of delicious thread to try: King Tut, So Fine , OMNI, and Magnifico. I haven't used those particular lines (the So Fine is 40 weight, I usually use 50), so I am really excited to try them out and experiment with some different threads.

Also included in the sample kit was a DVD: Thread Therapy with Dr. Bob. This almost-2 hour (!) educational seminar is conducted by self-certified Threadologist Bob Purcell, who just so happens to be the President of Superior Threads. I thought I knew quite a bit about thread but of course I watched the 'show' from start to finish to learn more (love to learn!) and 'eliminate my frustrations with thread, needles, and tension'. I call this a show because one may think that 2 hours of discussion about thread could be a boring prospect but Dr. Bob totally makes the topic entertaining, enlightening, and very interesting! I learned so much and feel so much more informed and confident when it comes to trying new threads, adjusting tension, and using the right needle. Mr. Purcell makes it all fun! (No charge for the jokes!) Right now, you can get the Thread Therapy DVD FREE right here! I highly recommend watching this if you use thread!!!!

I found the ins and outs of thread quality, variation, and uses very helpful and I'm glad I can refer back to the DVD whenever I need to or have a question. I've already posted many times about all the great FREE information Superior posts on their website, including all the amazing REFERENCE GUIDES you can print off for free. You can choose from thread guides, tension guides, colour compatibility charts, needle guides, and so much more. I always print the ones I need, laminate them, and keep them next to my machines or in my thread containers.

One other thing I got in my goody bag is the "What Makes Us Superior?" booklet. This is an amazing reference tool that has all the colour charts of all the thread lines Superior has. You can quickly see the details of each type of thread (number of shades, weight, yards per spool and cone, and the best uses of the thread). I find this information tremendously helpful when selecting which thread type I want to order and use. They even tell you which needle to use on your home machine and longarm. There are guides at the back as well, like the ones available on the website (still nice to have at your fingertips!). You can get the booklet HERE.

What a great surprise to get all this wonderful stuff along with my beautiful machine. I hope to try out my new threads soon and will let you know how each one performs. I already placed an order for some different products and threads after learning what's available and I'll share them all next week!

 

Craftsy's Free eGuides

Craftsy is now offering FREE eGuides - just another reason I love their site!!!  An eGuide is a free guide that users can download to their computer in PDF format, or view in a web browser. In addition to all of the useful information these contain about our favourite hobbies, many of them include a CLASS DISCOUNT OFFER(!!!) within the eGuide. How cool is that?

Here are the current free eGuides:

Photography (understanding exposure)

Cake Decorating (buttercream decorating ideas)

Food & Cooking (doughnut recipes)

Paper Crafts (6 stash-busting projects)

Drawing (drawing the human face)

Painting (beginner's guide to watercolour)

Gardening (container gardening)

Woodworking (woodturning basics)

 There are a couple I'm downloading and printing off. Hey, if there's something for free I'm taking advantage of it - there could always be something new to learn! Have a great day!