tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25467346471165541132024-02-07T22:58:09.317-07:00MY CUP OF TEAThe things in life that are my "cup of tea". Specifically my passion for cooking and food.Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18167215105155494202noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546734647116554113.post-87623158200807095022016-07-19T06:54:00.000-06:002016-07-19T06:54:35.213-06:00<h4>
Fabric</h4>
<div>
What is there about fabric that makes you feel so happy? The touch, feel, smell, texture can awaken the imagination. If there were just one reason that I sew, I would have to say, loud and clear FABRIC. <br />
In my area, shops that sell fabric tend to only carry quilting fabric. While I admire quilting, I yearn for the fabrics of garments. Gaberdine, silks, snuggley flannels. To touch them, to feel them, to experience them.<br />
<br />
what about a quality fabric gives personality to a rather ordinary garment. Somehow I think I'm not alone in this rather fanciful love of fabric. Why else do so many women who sew have their "stash".<br />
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Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18167215105155494202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546734647116554113.post-24540728838647622232011-12-30T14:36:00.001-07:002012-01-04T09:56:03.341-07:00Raggedy Ann and Andy and my life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpFLXtatR7Fl4s2rzVOf4Yv7uY-aZcGZcttGFwau2U77ZDXosNOraNs841rJ-ATVLO9MBfe3uHLcXunh_4CtKdMT6sgCRxkmgX878YuLwPLXID0V94vdtkGzaJQwdpXfxopImCKW9d3Zm/s1600/raggedyann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpFLXtatR7Fl4s2rzVOf4Yv7uY-aZcGZcttGFwau2U77ZDXosNOraNs841rJ-ATVLO9MBfe3uHLcXunh_4CtKdMT6sgCRxkmgX878YuLwPLXID0V94vdtkGzaJQwdpXfxopImCKW9d3Zm/s320/raggedyann.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>As a small child, I would sometimes wish for a thing but never speak the wish aloud. Somehow, I thought, if I wished hard enough, the wish would come true. Three of these wishes still stand out in my mind. One Christmas when I was 8, I wished for a toy sewing machine. (that might have started my desire to sew) Another wish was that my daddy would drive an ice cream truck so we could have a never ending supply of Good Humor bars. The third wish was for a Raggedy Ann doll.<br />
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The love of Raggedy Ann and Andy, never went away. My son's all were given an Andy when small. Later when I finally got a sewing machine of my own, I made a Raggedys for my daughter (she is my youngest and only girl) and many of my grandchildren. <br />
<br />
One year I made small ones for my grandmother and my parents. I have them all now, their original owners have passed away. They are cherished as memories of the love I felt for them.<br />
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I am also a collector of things raggedy......although I never made one for myself, my friend Evelyn made me one, I've bought them at thriftshops, yard sales and flea markets. Such a simple thing, to love so much. But you see, Raggedy Ann loves you back.Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18167215105155494202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546734647116554113.post-71539583137652974222011-12-30T14:35:00.000-07:002011-12-30T14:35:51.769-07:00Welcome To This World Gabriel James<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBkm-KahSqz_Z0yXarkPSIzDaO06quPhVmo5MwoGvcc_mKgR8YSVfvWcO4uEIgrwRHrch-t4PRziYw_tsZ_V01RI7tKx_RBd-4o_WjEjTvQjJAIzrkyH7GzAI1ajRv9SkeO-9pdIrL0y8/s1600/12141633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBkm-KahSqz_Z0yXarkPSIzDaO06quPhVmo5MwoGvcc_mKgR8YSVfvWcO4uEIgrwRHrch-t4PRziYw_tsZ_V01RI7tKx_RBd-4o_WjEjTvQjJAIzrkyH7GzAI1ajRv9SkeO-9pdIrL0y8/s320/12141633.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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A new grandson with his whole life ahead of him, like blank pages in a book. Clean, crisp, pristine. I hope your life is wonderful, little one. Your grandma sure thinks you are wonderful.Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18167215105155494202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546734647116554113.post-17123830276435270182011-02-24T19:53:00.000-07:002011-02-24T19:53:07.136-07:00An Ending and a Beginning.I'm done with the quilted bag and in the small hands of my granddaughter who astutely said "made it out of hot pads, eh". She is a funny little thing. Fact is, I did use the same fabric to make some hot pads, a week or so back. Children notice everything. So far she hasn't put her Barbie clothes in it but she has carried it around like a purse.<br />
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So now on to my next project, a sampler type crazy quilt, complete with the catty wompus piecing and embroidery and velvet. It will take me a while, but then, that's what retirement is for.Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18167215105155494202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546734647116554113.post-23747138247761645652011-02-21T19:23:00.000-07:002011-02-21T19:23:35.566-07:00Learning to freemotion quiltMy newest interest is freemotion quilting. I've done some small quilt projects before but never got to the point of learning the actually quilting part. I've haunted Youtube and websites and have been practicing. I really think I am getting the hang of it but last night I sewed my finger. I can't help but laugh, 50 years of sewing and my first sewing injury. The websites advise practicing on squares or rectangles of fabric/batting sandwiches. Since I am a waste not, want not kind of person, now my goal is to find uses of these small quilted squares and rectangles. Today I am working on a bag for my granddaughter, Mya to use for her Barbie clothes. My original thought was just a drawstring bag but I seem to be making something a little more complicated now. I should be done tomorrow and then back to practice squares.Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18167215105155494202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546734647116554113.post-69559008991110012252011-01-06T07:31:00.002-07:002011-04-13T18:26:36.330-06:00My Review of 4-Pc Cast Iron Set<div class="hreview"><div class="item"><a href="http://www.brylanehome.com/product.aspx?PfId=200919&DeptId=15209&ProductTypeId=1">Originally submitted at Brylane Home</a><br />
<div><img align="left" class="photo" src="http://images.powerreviews.com/images_products/09/82/9069768_100.jpg" style="margin: 0px 0.5em 0px 0px;" /><br />
<div style="margin-top: 0px;"></div> <a class="url fn" href="http://www.brylanehome.com/product.aspx?PfId=200919&DeptId=15209&ProductTypeId=1" style="display: none;"><span class="fn">4-Pc Cast Iron Set</span></a></div></div><br />
<strong class="summary">I Love These Pans</strong><br />
<div>My purpose in buying these pans was for no knead bread....they are a bit large for this without increasing the recipe but the bread turned out wonderful. I have used the pans on stovetop for things such as spagetti sauce, soups and am very pleased with them. I love cast iron and have several pans of various types. These are the first I have bought that were enamel coated. They clean easily and are very attractive.</div><div style="margin-top: 0.5em;">(<a href="http://www.powerreviews.com/legal/terms_of_use.html" rel="license">legalese</a>)</div></div>Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18167215105155494202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546734647116554113.post-68268907874905908102010-09-13T11:14:00.000-06:002010-09-13T11:14:53.630-06:00Yesterday in my kitchen....Have you ever woke with you day all planned in your head? As your senses came awake you had all of it coming together? I did that yesterday morning.<br />
<br />
I pictured a chicken parm type dish, done in individual one serving casseroles, one to eat now, the rest for the freezer. As I made my way to the kitchen, I pictured bran muffins with dried fruit in them. By the time I was putting my coffee on I had rice pilaf planned. Then I thought of a lovely Tuscan bean soup and I was hooked, my day was planned.<br />
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With coffee on, I got the dogs and went outside. They roll on the grass and I look at my garden, some tomatoes ripe, a couple of zucchini. My peaches look ready, squeezing one it gives a little, so I pick it. Coming back into the house with my bounty, I taste the peach. Too firm still but wonderful flavor, I eat it all.<br />
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Muffins first; fresh ground whole wheat flour, organic bran, ground flax seed, old fashion oats, molasses, honey, coconut oil, buttermilk and eggs and the baking powder, soda, spices and dried cherries. How lovely they turned out. I kept some out to eat and froze the rest.<br />
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On to the rice, olive oil in a pan, various herbs and spices, then the nice organic brown rice. stir a bit and add broth, cover and simmer. As the rice cooks I go on to other things. Simmer a chicken thigh, add canned white beans, carrots, tomatoes, some herbs. By the end of the day, I have lovely Tuscan bean soup to eat and in the freezer, rice packaged in baggies and froze and all those lovely muffins.<br />
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What a lovely day I had.Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18167215105155494202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546734647116554113.post-55730561220102356262010-08-26T11:52:00.000-06:002010-08-26T11:52:37.939-06:00Things your mother never taught you (and some they did).............Did you know why directions on cake mix boxes say to reduce the temperature of your oven 25 degrees if using a glass pan? I was so proud of myself when I realized the reason a few months ago (slow learner, lol). Glass is a better conductor of heat then most of the materials that pans are made of. You don't want to burn your cake, do you?<br />
<br />
Measure your oil before you measure honey in same cup and the honey will pour out easily. Alternatively, spray some Pam or other cooking spray in the cup before you measure honey.<br />
<br />
Rolling stacked spinach into a tube then making small cuts is an easier way to chop spinach.<br />
<br />
Never cut homemade bread until it cools at least 15 minutes and preferably 30 minutes. The slices will be gummy if you do.<br />
<br />
My mother taught me that there were 16 tablespoons in a cup and the easy way to measure shortening was with a spoon, ie 1/4 cup is 4 tablespoons, 1/3 cup is 5 and a bit more.<br />
<br />
Some flatware sets have spoons that are exactly a teaspoon or tablespoon and easier to measure with (check the measurement against your measuring spoon to be sure).<br />
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An 8 cup coffeepot doesn't hold 8 measuring cups. The cup size they are referring to is a 6 oz teacup, those were the standard years ago. (makes you think, doesn't it) <br />
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If your homemade cake came out tough, it is probably because you overbeat it and developed the gluten in the flour.<br />
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I'm sure once I publish this post, I will think of more. What are some of yours?Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18167215105155494202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546734647116554113.post-17049511277641133792010-08-24T16:13:00.000-06:002010-08-24T16:13:28.134-06:00Food and the Rhythm of Live..............What is it about certain kinds of cooking and baking that feeds my soul? There is an earthy sensuality to the rhythmic kneading of the smooth, supple bread dough. The aroma fills the kitchen and I pull the loaves out of the oven to see, with pleasure, the "oven spring" and the crust color.<br />
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This past few days have been involved in several food related activities. Besides bak<span style="background-color: white;">ing </span>bread, I cut herbs from my herb garden and picked zucchini and tomatoes. I also roasted a chicken.<br />
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I was happy, with the advent of cooler days, to be able to use my oven again. It was with pleasure, I snipped the rosemary, basil and thyme to fill the chicken cavity I raised the skin on the breast and lovingly slipped still more herbs under it. The rosemary, still on its stem, looked so pretty. I baked it in my cast iron dutch oven, at 450 degrees for 15 minutes and an additional 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees.<br />
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Happiness and contentment come in all forms, this indeed is one of them.Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18167215105155494202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546734647116554113.post-53261974500340915382010-08-18T19:38:00.001-06:002010-08-18T19:45:42.037-06:00My search is over...............I recently thought about a recipe I used to use and after searching off and on for months I finally found the one I want. It's a slightly florescent french dressing recipe, made with tomato soup and MCP pectin. I found I still like the taste of it, more like some that were around when I was a kid, back in the dark ages.<br />
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While finding this recipe I found several others using pectin that I will be experiementing with soon. The plus with some of them is supposedly you can use less oil. The french dressing one, however does have a good amount. Since it makes about a quart, it still is lower fat than many you buy. I'll be testing in the future to come up with a lower fat version.<br />
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I am a single senior, my kids all grown and on their own. I am also fairly frugal and like to try to find ways to save money while eating better. I had this today with a spinach salad, yum.<br />
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MCP FRENCH DRESSING<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
2 tsp salt<br />
1 tsp dry mustard <br />
1/2 tsp pepper<br />
1 tsp paprika<br />
1/4 C sugar<br />
1 package MCP Pectin<br />
1/2 cup cider vinegar<br />
1 1/2 cups salad oil<br />
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce<br />
1 tsp minced onion<br />
1 garlic clove, minced<br />
1 can tomato Soup<br />
DIRECTIONS:<br />
Combine all dry ingredients<br />
Add to soup and vinegar (I did this in my blender)<br />
Add onion, garlic and Worcestershire sauce<br />
Mix well.<br />
Add oil one-half cup at a time and beat well after each addition<br />
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Keep in refrigerator (this made about a quart)Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18167215105155494202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546734647116554113.post-78451930331868589582010-08-14T09:02:00.000-06:002010-08-14T09:02:28.139-06:00Bread, the staff of live.....................<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Irwx5IHSSaeC4uxeHIQ1fcwqzFIzDj6waqEjRMZbgnPJedqQwULafyGFfWDVMWcRLOY7oFLxzWgsWqgAg_eLQRR6oJ-9Wycv56L3b8Vm016jHN8eV37iq_WXu0q33DW4cPd9bHFk2Llq/s1600/nyt+no+knead+bread+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Irwx5IHSSaeC4uxeHIQ1fcwqzFIzDj6waqEjRMZbgnPJedqQwULafyGFfWDVMWcRLOY7oFLxzWgsWqgAg_eLQRR6oJ-9Wycv56L3b8Vm016jHN8eV37iq_WXu0q33DW4cPd9bHFk2Llq/s400/nyt+no+knead+bread+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I am attempting to make free form bread. This loaf of bread, although amateur in it's shaping, was delicious and based on the no knead recipes that have swept the web the past couple of years. The particular one was done, step by step according the the directions at breadtopia <a href="http://www.breadtopia.com/">http://www.breadtopia.com</a>.<br />
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My usual daily bread is 100% whole wheat bread, made with fresh milled whole wheat. I make it 5 loaves at a time usually and freeze what I can't use right away. I will devote a future post to how I do it.Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18167215105155494202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546734647116554113.post-54537851671861730322010-08-13T17:10:00.001-06:002010-08-14T13:53:39.992-06:00In defense of zucchini..........Zucchini! <br />
I checked yesterday there was only 3 tiny ones. They are taking over my life. The wonder of the first small miracle of life that I harvested so lovingly and ate with such pleasure is dim in my mind. I've made zucchini bread, zucchini fritters, sliced it, diced it, shredded it, sauteed it. I even made an omelet with it (very good actually).<br />
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What other plant grows so lovingly for us? I have never saw a beginning gardener fail with zucchini. Here are some ideas for you who are stalked by the zucchini plant that took over your garden.<br />
<ul><li>pick it small, eat it raw. Zucchini is surprisingly good cut in slices like a cucumber and eaten raw with ranch dressing. Pair them with carrot sticks and other veggies and keep them ready in the fridge. They also are good in salads and recently I made a zucchini salad with cherry tomatoes and a vinaigrette.</li>
<li>zucchini bread and butter pickles. My sister makes a refrigerator variety. Here is a recipe to get you started <a href="http://www.yankeemagazine.com/recipes/search/onerecipe.php?number=17219">zucchini bread and butter pickles</a> I have also eaten, in the past, a surprisingly good zucchini hot dog relish <a href="http://en.petitchef.com/recipes/zucchini-hot-dog-relish-fid-446855">zucchini hot dog relish</a></li>
<li>zucchini fritters, shredded zucchini in a light fritter batter. (corn also makes a good fritter)</li>
<li>add shredded zucchini to your favorite muffin recipe.</li>
<li>chocolate zucchini cake, amazingly rich and moist a chocolate lover's delight.</li>
<li>freeze it. Shredded zucchini freezes well in baggies. When ready to use it, thaw, drain and use.</li>
<li>zucchini bread, everyone has a favorite recipe. I'm looking for a lower fat and sugar version. Do you have one? </li>
</ul><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-large;">......</span></div><ul></ul><span style="color: #38761d;">Chocolate Zucchini Cake</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">1 cup oil (or 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup oil)</span><br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">1 3/4 cups sugar</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">2 eggs</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">1 teaspoon vanilla</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">2 1/2 cup flour</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">1/4 cup cocoa</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">1 teaspoon baking soda</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">1/2 teaspoon cinnamon</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">1/2 teaspoon nutmeg</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">1/2 teaspoon baking powder</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">1 teaspoon salt</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">2 cups of shredded zucchini</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Topping:</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">3/4 cups chocolate chips</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">3/4 cups brown sugar</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">cream together sugar and oil (or butter/oil), </span><span style="color: #38761d;">add eggs and vanilla, </span><span style="color: #38761d;">mix dry ingredients, sift if desired, </span><span style="color: #38761d;">add to sugar mixture alternating with buttermilk or sour milk, </span><span style="color: #38761d;">stir in shredded zucchini. Spread in an ungreased 9x13 pan. Stir together chocolate chips and brown sugar and sprinkle dry over the unbaked cake batter. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes. Allow to cool and serve directly from cake pan.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Don't skip the brown sugar and chocolate chips. They melt down into the cake making the wonderful caramel/chocolate tunnels. If you love chocolate, I guarantee you will love this cake!</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div>Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18167215105155494202noreply@blogger.com0