Torture, or Revenge?

I have been learning to sew. Teaching yourself is really hard, but gets easier the more proper tools one acquires. Sewing for yourself is really hard to adjust; somehow pinning things to yourself and standing back from yourself and looking at yourself is all so difficult. You need a dressmaker dummy for that.

I have been researching making a dressmaker dummy online for a few weeks now. Several sites were helpful, but reading them all made it a bit easier. I suckered Shaw into helping me; Shaw is a VERY GOOD HUSBAND/SPORT.

Two rolls of duct tape later, we finished in about two and a half hours. I haven't stuffed it yet, but the form is totally assembled. Here are some entertaining pictures Shaw took of the process.

We started with an old undershirt, cut and taped up to be more form fitting, and added more of another shirt to the bottom for length. The first two layers are in black duct tape. (Did you know they made duct tape in colors?)

The next is my favorite. Just more tape than the last one. The whole top part of me is encased in black duct tape, and although I am holding scissors in a stylish fashion, what you don't know is I can't move my arms up or down and it was my only option.





Hours later, the final layer was white duct tape. I was pretty tired of standing perfectly still at this point in the process, so I used the wall for support.




I've got to name this little thing now and start sewing something. I can't call it a Mini Me since it is the same size. And now that I know the exact size of my backside, we've started exercising in the mornings again. Argh!

Sophie Rags

My first little sewing project for Sophie was a direct order from the blond herself. She requested something pink, with flowers and four leaf clovers, and also a matching dress for Blue Eyed Baby.

Couldn't find four leaf clovers (and boy did she notice that), but I did find this cute print at Joann's and picked out a pattern, Butterick 5019.

This pattern is for freakishly wide-shouldered little girls, and sure enough, Sophie was too narrow for it. I took it back home and put some little pleats in the front and back to make it more narrow. Let's hope it works; I'll try it on her this weekend at the farm. Blue Eyed's dress fit her perfectly the first time. Something about plastic heads make it easier I guess. I'll post a picture when she tries it on.

Another One Got Away

I'm missing a picture of this one, as I began eating it before I remembered. I'd make this one again. Shaw loves one-bowl meals, especially ones that involve pasta. I'm trying to branch out and find winner pastas that don't use tomatoes. I'll never forsake tomatoes, but I don't eat them when they are not good, and they are only good from, say, June through October at best.

Broccoli Rabe, Cannellini and Fontina Pasta (serves 2 too well, or 3-4 normal)

2/3 c fresh breadcrumbs (use your food processor or grater)
8 oz shells or rotini
one bunch broccoli rabe (sweeter than regular broccoli), cut in 1 inch pieces
16 oz can cannellini beans (white kidney beans)
3 cloves garlic
2 T oil
1 can chicken broth
1 T flour
2 T red wine vinegar
2/3 c grated fontina (so good)
salt, pepper

Toast the breadcrumbs in a skillet. You can do this with oil, or without I would think. This goes on at the end and is optional, but really nice.

Boil the shells in plenty of boiling water, but short your timer by about 3 minutes. At that time, add the broccoli rabe to the pasta and continue cooking for about 3 minutes, until pasta is done. Drain in a colander and dry the pot. Put it back on the heat.

Whisk the broth and flour together and chop the garlic finely while the pasta is finishing. In the same pot, add about 2 T olive oil and cook the garlic until fragrant. Add the broth mixture and whisk until it simmers for about 4 minutes.

Add in the beans and pasta/broccoli rabe, toss in the vinegar and 1/2 t salt, plus plenty of ground pepper. Once it is all heated through, remove from heat and stir in the cheese until it melts.

Serve it up and top with the toasted breadcrumbs. Totally vegetarian.

Best Evah Chocolate Frosting

The photograph of the cake I made with this frosting was so pig-dog ugly it would have broken the lens. I actually thought it turned out more like pancakes. In fact, pancakes might have been fluffier. The cake did taste pretty good (classic yellow cake recipe, from the internet, guaranteed to be the best: FAIL), but the frosting was rocket-my-mouth-to-the-moon fantastic.

I actually cut the cakes in half and stacked them on top of each other, making a four layer half moon cake. It allowed for more of the rockin' frosting. And Shaw hates ganache, bless his poor little heart, so he requested a yellow cake with REGULAR chocolate frosting.

Heidi requested it. Here it is. And no mixer required.

Best Evah Chocolate Frosting

1/2 c butter
4 oz bitter chocolate
1 lb 10x sugar (confectioner sugar)
1 t vanilla
3/4 c cream

Melt chocolate and butter over a double boiler, or GENTLY in a microwave. In a large bowl, combine sugar, vanilla and 1/2 c of cream. Blend in chocolate. Add remaining cream until desired consistency is achieved. Let stand until spreadable.

** Note** I had some Bakers chocolate squares in my pantry. I insist on using the darkest possible chocolate, but Shaw gets scared when it goes above 65%. I mixed semi-sweet squares and bittersweet or unsweet squares and achieved a most pleasant outcome.

For Kay

I never knew Kay was so influenced by food preparation. She and Charlie drove all the way over to our old apartment to loan us their Suburban for our move last summer. What a lifesaver! Anyhoo, I was fixing a quick snack for Shaw before he drove them back home. As it turns out, Kay was fairly impressed with my avocado presentation. I have never put it in the blog because it is so easy. And, so many do not like avocado.

This most recent picture is a different angle. It is a lengthwise half of an avocado, sliced and then reassembled slightly spaced out. Avocado is super good for you, and really tasty, another great first course. Just a squirt of lime, crunchy salt and pepper, and sometimes chopped cilantro. If you can find it, pink salt is especially nice.

Kay is supposed to come over for dinner in a few weeks. We'll be starting with avocado.

Ahhhh... Salad!

I like the mood lighting of this picture.



This salad was an attempt at dodging greens. Alas, it is still green, but also yummy. A great first course.





Green Bean Salad with Walnuts

1 lb green beans
1 small onion, finely chopped (shallots are nice)
1 garlic clove, minced and pulverized (and reduced, if you like)
4 T grated parmiggiano
2 T chopped walnuts or almonds, to garnish

For the dressing:
6 T olive oil
2 T white wine vinegar
salt, pepper, chopped tarragon

Trim the beans but leave them whole. Cook for 3-4 minutes in salted boiling water. Drain well and refresh under cold water. Drain again and put in a mixing bowl. Add onion and cheese.

Combine all dressing ingredients and add garlic (if using). Pour over salad and toss gently to coat. Chill at least 30 minutes before serving. Toast nuts in a dry skillet until they begin to brown. Sprinkle nuts and tarragon to garnish before serving.

I truly enjoy most salads at room temperature. This one says to chill it, and that is ok. I just like it made fresh, unchilled.

Hooray!

We gotta prove we got family.

Here is a picture of Li'l Kathryn and Will at their wedding in January 2009. It was such a nice event, and I happened to get this picture from Shaw's sister, Heidi. I highly doubt Li'l Kathryn will check our blog to actually see it, since I haven't updated our blog in AGES. Now I'm back.

Welcome, Will! I hope you know what you're in for!