Pots and Pins

July Quilt Group ...

We had a great quilt group meeting at Helen's - even if it was very, very small!  Helen has an amazing home - one step in the door and I'm oohing and aahing over everything but especially her quilts..she has thousands of quilts...yes, thousands...or at least too many for me to count.  And they are all wonderful....here's a few of her quilts and some more of her purses - she is a purse-making-fool!

We had Helen bring out her "wonky 9-patch" because we're going to do another 9-patch group project in September...it's pictured on the far left above.  Next to it is her scrappy, happy quilt - then the purses in the middle.  The red and cream Irish Chain was her table cloth that she served us a wonderful lunch on...(sorry I couldn't eat it Helen!) and the last quilt shown on the right above is one of her most recent - another scrappy quilt that we all loved.  Terry commented that she didn't know how Helen could do all that she does...and Helen replied, "It's because it's all that I do!"

Michelle, who has the least amount of time out of any of us, still managed to piece together two adorable quilt tops...I love the one on the left so much I think I'm going to have to copy it!

   

Terry, one of our resident perfectionists, brought in her appliqued blocks, pictured on the far left, there are dozens of them.  I laid them around and on top of the book that has a picture of the quilt that she is making - it will be beautiful when it's finished.  The next two blocks are part of her BeAttitude quilt - it's going to be very sweet!  And she wouldn't be the quilting star that she is if she didn't bring in two quilts!  We all loved the "country" quilt above and her "contemporary" quilt...she likes every kind of quilt just like me! 

Shrimp Rolls...

Oh sure, this is the poor man's lobster roll...but it's still dang good.  The mister and the boy love these...I prefer to eat my shrimp roll sans the roll, but only if I'm sticking to my "do it or die diet."  This is a quick and easy recipe for a weeknight meal in the summer...no cooking, baking and really, no fuss.  We buy a big bag of frozen shrimp from Costco...don't you just love Costco?!  That frozen bag of shrimp will last us for quite a while and make dozens of shrimp rolls.  I do love Costco, but only if the mister is NOT with me.  Oh he LOVES Costco...loves to throw stuff in the basket as we walk up and down the aisle...loves to throw in gadgets we'll never use and meat that won't fit in the freezer and skin-care products that he thinks will make him look ten years younger...if you only knew how funny that was!  We'll get up to the register with a basket over-flowing with crap and the bill will be around $500 and it's then that the mister will ask, "What in the world did YOU buy?!?"  When I start to point out HIS purchases he quickly changes the subject...consequently, he is only allowed to go to Costco twice a year...once in the summer and once before Christmas because really, you can never have enough food at Christmas and there's always room in the basket for jewelry!

Shrimp Rolls

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon prepared horseradish

salt and pepper to taste

1 1/2 pounds cooked medium shrimp

2 stalks celery, finely chopped

1/4 cup chives, finely chopped

1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped

4 hot-dog style buns

1 small head of green lettuce, rinsed, dried and torn into pieces

In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, horseradish and salt and pepper.  Fold in celery, chives, green onions and shrimp.  Line the buns with lettuce pieces and fill with shrimp mixture.  Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving.  Makes 4 servings.

"Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything."  Charles Kuralt.

Sewing Caddy #2...

I stopped by the only quilt shop left in town and while waiting to pay I noticed a bowl full of these sewing caddies...I wanted one but for $10 I thought I'd make my own....how many sewing caddies/needle holders does one need?  Obviously I don't know the answer to that as I haven't reached the saturation point yet...

 

Now can you see why I'm so enamored with these?!?  They are ridiculously cute!  And useful, too!

Two More Off The List...

Well....I must admit...this has been a BANNER week for me!  I've finished three quilt tops!  And I can finally see the top of my work table!  Now this first one is nothing special - I hadn't planned on making a sequel to Max's summer quilt but then I had so much fabric left over that I had to...it will go in my picnic quilt pile and if I ever go on a picnic I'll have plenty to choose from!

This quilt measures 56 x 58-inches...it was supposed to be square but somehow I lost count and added in an extra strip...the strips are cut 2 1/2-inches x 42-inches, the dark border is cut 1 1/2-inches and the large orange border was cut 6 1/2-inches. 

This next top was another group project - we exchanged circle blocks with Christmas themed or red/green fabric...and they've  been sitting for months just waiting to be sewn together!  I'm not sure I like this quilt - I decided to use the fabric I had rather on hand for the border rather than go buy something that might have worked better - but maybe this will be one of those quilts that I'll like/love after it's quilted...hope so!

This is a no-brainer quilt...I used a CD for my circles and they are sewn onto 7 1/2-inch squares.  This quilt measures  68 x 72-inches...just the right size to curl up in while watching Christmas Vacation.

Make-Ahead French Toast With Strawberry Sauce...

This is a Southern Living recipe from years ago - it's a no-fail-big-hit - I've served it many times and it's my "go to" dish when I'm short on time but still need something nice....like this morning...today is a friend's birthday and it was decided that she needed to be awakened and served breakfast...her husband was all to happy to help us sneak into their bedroom to surprise our sleeping friend...so in we went, loudly singing Happy Birthday as she promptly pulled the covers up over her head - at least she was laughing as she did! 

Fortunately she was a good sport about the whole thing (it did not escape me that she didn't ask for an encore of our song!)  We gave her enough time to make herself presentable - which she really didn't need - she looked great - so unfair!  She didn't wake up with Rooster hair like I did!          

Once back in the kitchen we set up the table as elegantly as we could...sparing no expense...

We had a great breakfast - good friends, good food and presents!  What a way to start the day!  As it turned out, no one wanted to be photographed - after all, it was the crack of dawn!

Make-Ahead French Toast With Strawberry Sauce - Adapted from Southern Living Magazine, 2002

1 loaf French bread, cubed

1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, cut into pieces, about the size of dice

6 large eggs

4 cups half and half

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/3 cup maple syrup, divided

2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced

1 (10 oz.) jar strawberry preserves

Arrange half of bread in a lightly buttered 13-x 9-inch pan.  Sprinkle with cream cheese pieces, top with remaining bread, pressing down gently.  Whisk together eggs, half and half, butter and 1/4 cup of the maple syrup; pour over bread mixture.  Press down on bread cubes to absorb egg mixture.  Drizzle the remaining syrup over the top of the bread mixture.  Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.  Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  Uncover and bake  20 more minutes.  Heat sliced strawberries and strawberry preserves in a saucepan over low heat, and serve over toast.  Makes 10 servings.

"If you live to the age of a hundred you have it made because very few peole die past the age of a hundred."  George Burns

Tarragon-Cream Chicken and Polenta Pot Pies...

About a year ago I saw Rachel YUM-O Ray make this dish on 30 Minute Meals and I printed out a copy of the recipe because not only did it sound good and look easy to make, Rachel went on and on about how great the taste was and I was hanging on every word....I love tarragon - and cream, so it had to be good!  Then yesterday I was sewing, had on Food Network and there was Rach, as I like to call her, making this dish again...for once I was thrilled to watch a rerun....I had yet to make this recipe and since it was cold and gray outside and I wasn't feeling so great I decided that we would have Tarragon-Cream Chicken and Polenta Pot Pies for dinner....it was the best decision I made during the entire day...maybe even for the entire week!    

Quickly - that's how this comes together...and the presentation is amazing...it's a killer recipe and definitely "company worthy."  It would also be a great dish to take to someone who is sick...it's so much better than any pot pie you've ever had before...I'm sure it has healing qualities because I instantly felt better after eating this...and if I knew of any sick people I would make this and take it to them tonight ...too bad everyone I know is healthy...sad for them.    

The polenta topping is the key...it is so creamy and rich and ....pardon me while I wipe my drool...it is truly the best part...but then again, the tarragon cream sauce is just plain heavenly...I only wish I'd doubled the recipe!

Tarragon-Cream Chicken and Polenta Pot Pies - Rachael Ray, 30 Minute Meals

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil....EVOO....c'mon, say it like Rach!

1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders, chopped into bite size pieces

2 carrots, chopped

1 onion, chopped

2 ribs celery with greens, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

3 cups chicken stock, divided

1 cup cream, divided

1/2 cup quick cooking polenta, (or grits) plus more, if needed *

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

6 sprigs fresh tarragon, stripped and chopped, 3 to 4 tablespoons

1 cup frozen peas (I didn't add these, I forgot, plus I hate peas)

1 cup Gruyere cheese, grated

In a deep skillet heat olive oil over medium-high heat.  Add chicken and lightly brown, 3 minutes, then add carrots, onions and celery as your chop.  Season with salt and pepper as you go and cook for 10 to 12 minutes to soften, and just until the veggies and chicken begin to carmelize. 

Preheat broiler.  Set rack in middle of oven.  Bring 1 cup of chicken stock and 1/2 cup of cream to a boil, stir in polenta and whisk for 3 minutes.  Turn heat to low, stir in Gruyere cheese and set aside. 

Scoot meat and veggies off to side, melt butter and combine with flour and stir for 1 minute.  Whisk in 2 cups stock and combine, stir in 1/2 cup cream and bring to a bubble.  Stir in Dijon, tarragon, peas and adjust salt and pepper to taste.  Transfer to soup bowls.  Set soup bowls on baking dish.  Form tops to your pot pies with the polenta and cheese mixture.  Set under broiler and brown for 2 to 3 minutes.  Serve hot.  Makes 4 servings. 

"I refuse to spend my life worrying about what I eat.  There is no pleasure worth forgoing just for an extra three years in the geriatric ward."  John Mortimer

Lost Socks Quilt...

Finally!  The top is done!  This started as a group project - we all exchanged fabrics for our socks and backgrounds and got together to sew....the blocks have been sitting for about 4 months now so, being fully ripened, I figured it was time to put them together...and as usual I did my best to muck it up...I first sewed blocks into the corners and then, when I took a picture and saw the quilt in the picture I realized how stupid they looked...see for yourself...

After two hours of "unsewing" and resewing ...I now like the look of the borders - I should have just done this to begin with!

This quilt measures 72-inches x 88-inches - and it's going to be a family quilt...it's just too cute to give away!  Now I've got to quilt it...but how?  Anyone got any suggestions?  Should I stipple it?  Over the socks or around them?  Or should I shadow quilt it?  Or should I just send it off to a long-arm-pro to work her magic so I don't have to work mine?!!  Now that the top is done I'm anxious to get it finished...

"To be wrapped in a quilt is to be wrapped in love." Anonymous

Wool Sewing Caddy...

I saw this little sewing caddy on All People Quilt - if you haven't been to this site then you're missing some great stuff!  They have wonderful tutorials, great patterns and beautiful pictures of quilts  - if you sign up for their weekly email you'll never be without a project! 

I've made many of their projects - my watermelon table runner came from here and so did my carrot table runner - both too cute for words!  This sewing caddy is a kit - I didn't order it  - I just stole their idea and used my own supplies...I have a thing for sewing kits - I love them - and they are all over my house - I can go into any room and sew on a button if need be!  Wow, now there's a worthy goal!  Sometimes it sucks being me!

This took one episode of NCIS to complete...

Ants in my Pants...

Living in the great Northwest is not all fun and games...yes, we have rain, and gray skies and terrible traffic and taxes upon taxes...and we also have ants...carpenter ants, which are huge and easy to spot and they generally live outdoors, eating up tall trees from the inside out until they crash down on a house or car...are you packing your bags to move here yet?  We also have moisture ants...which stands to reason since it is very moist up here....someone I know doesn't like the word moist...can't remember who...but really, it's not a pleasant word, is it?  So these moisture ants live in wet wood and they eat the wet wood until there is no more wood to eat....below is a picture of my living room....we've had the wall ripped out from under the window THREE TIMES in 12 years....THREE TIMES!!  We've done everything possible to keep the moisture out so the ants will stay out...but THEY'RE BACK!!!!!

So the wall has been ripped out yet again...and the ants were everywhere!  Our handyman now assures us that he can fix this problem permanently...he is the same handyman who did the first three fixes...now that should tell you something...actually it should tell US something but call us Mr. and Mrs. Stupid because we're giving him one more go....this time he's going to use treated lumber and he's going to redo the brick on the outside of the house...that sound you hear is our cash flying out from under the window...

Spicy Peanut Slaw...

Normally anything that has the word spicy in it is something I set aside to make when the mister is out of town...because, as you know, he hates spicy anything.  Well, as luck would have it, the mister is not traveling anywhere for quite some time...so that meant either I had to wait for months to make this slaw or just deal with his complaints...I opted for the latter...but I did set out the Pepto Bismol on the kitchen counter - in plain view - for his dessert.   

For fifteen years the mister traveled...he left every Monday morning and returned home every Thursday night...it was great - the kids and I did what we wanted when we wanted.  And then one day he stopped.  Just like that.  Our world's came crashing down around us....no more wall-papering or painting walls the color I wanted while he was gone...no more late night sewing/TV/girl talk/baking marathons....no more walking straight into the house with my purchases!  No more freedom!  Now he would know exactly what I did during the day...he would be there - working out of the house - to WATCH ME!!  The boy and the girl didn't know how to behave either!  One night the mister told the boy he couldn't go out and play and the boy replied, "I can too, you're not my TRUE OWNER, MOM IS!"  And he's still here - MOST of the time - his trips are too few and too far between...I would give HIS eye teeth for a slow boat to take him to China right about now...I've got some re-decorating I want to do and more spicy food to make...so you see, it's really for his own good that he should go!

Love, love, love this slaw...it IS spicy but it doesn't have to be - just decrease the amount of cayenne to your level of hot.  I love the peanuts and how they soak up the dressing - and the dressing is spoonable...as in you'll want to spoon a big tablespoon of it into your mouth!

Spicy Peanut Slaw - Adapted from Family Circle Magazine, June 2000

1/2 head Napa cabbage, shredded

1/2 head red cabbage, shredded

2 large carrots, peeled and grated

1 medium sweet onion, finely diced

1 cup dry roasted peanuts

Dressing:

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons peanut butter, creamy or chunky

2 tablespoon sesame oil

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger powder

1 teaspoon lime juice

1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

In large bowl combine cabbage, carrots, onion and peanuts.  Combine dressing ingredients in blender and blend on high until smooth.  Pour dressing over cabbage mixture and toss to mix.  Cover and refrigerate until chilled.  Serve immediately.  Serves 6 to 8.

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."  Will Rogers