Wednesday, August 31, 2011

to the moon...

Last Space layout for a while I promise, I got on a roll and couldn't stop! My eldest is always telling us he will be going to Space when he is "older"...I wanted to record a sweet  little moment in time that happened recently which really highlights his innocence. My husband and I are totally convinced he will go to Space one day too! My favourite papers ever from OA of course!


Till next time...

Fried Green Tomatoes with Homemade Garlic-Basil Mayonnaise

I'm not usually one to watch the same movie over and over again, but the movie Fried Green Tomatoes is a special exception.  I admit to being somewhat of a feminist and I love the strength and confidence of the women in this movie.  Fried Green Tomatoes is a movie about friendship, both old and new, and the importance and influence a good friendship can have on our lives. 
 
"I found out what the secret to life is: friends. Best Friends." - Ninny Threadgoode

One cannot watch the movie Fried Green Tomatoes without getting a craving for some.  With loads of green tomatoes in my garden, fried green tomatoes were an obvious choice.  When I went out to pick the tomatoes I noticed that my basil plant was growing out of control and needed a good trim.  After trimming the basil back I decided to make an Italian version of fried green tomatoes.  I added some chopped basil and Parmesan cheese to the panko mixture and then decided to make a homemade garlic-basil mayonnaise for dipping.  Every once in awhile I have a genius idea like that!

I fried ten thick slices of tomatoes until they were perfectly golden and placed them on a platter beside the homemade mayonnaise.  I nonchalantly picked one up, bit into it, and was completely amazed by how wonderful it was.  Perfectly crunchy, with loads of flavor from the basil and Parmesan, and also nice and meaty.  The thick slices of tomato really held up well to the frying.  These Italian-seasoned fried green tomatoes were perfect on their own, but were absolutely phenomenal once dipped in the homemade garlic-basil mayonnaise.  My Mom and I ate all ten slices with wild abandon.  After stuffing ourselves with fried green tomatoes we made a plan to stay out of the backyard.  It could be dangerous to the waistline.

"Oh, what I wouldn't give for a plate of fried green tomatoes like we used to have at the cafe. Ooh"- Ninny Threadgoode

  Fried Green Tomatoes
original recipe 
Serves 2-4, depending on appetite

2 medium-sized green tomatoes, cut thickly (about 5 slices per tomato)
About 1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten
About 2 cups panko
1/2 cups Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 cup chopped basil
salt and pepper to season
canola oil, for frying
cast iron skillet preferable

Place the flour, beaten egg, and panko in three separate trays for dipping/breading.  Heavily season the the flour, egg, and panko with salt and pepper.  Add the grated Parmesan cheese and the chopped basil to the panko and stir.  Dip each tomato slice into flour, then egg, then panko.  Place each coated slice on a baking tray and when each slice is breaded then place the entire baking tray in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.  (This is a tip I learned from Tyler Florence.  Anytime he adds a breading to something he allows it to "dry out" in the refrigerator.  This procedure helps the breading to adhere better once it hits the heat of the skillet. I use this tip all the time when breading.)  Fry up to 3 slices at a time on medium heat, remembering not to crowd the pan.  Each slice needs about 2-3 minutes per side.  Drained the fried green tomatoes on paper towels and allow to cool slightly before serving.  Sprinkle with additional basil and Parmesan prior to serving.

 Garlic-Basil Mayonnaise
Adapted from Farm to Fork by Emeril Lagasse
Makes 1-1/2 cups

1 large egg, at room temp
1 large egg yolk, at room temp
1-1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, or more to taste
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste
1/4 teaspoon pepper or cayenne pepper, or more to taste
1 cup canola oil
1/4 olive oil
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

Add the egg, egg yolk, lemon juice, mustard garlic, salt and pepper to the bowl of a food processor or blender and blend for 1 minute until smooth, light yellow, and froth, about 1 minute.  While the processor/blender is still running, combine the canola oil and olive oil in a measuring cup with a pour spout, and working very slowly, add the oil to the processor in a thin, steady stream, processing until the oil is completely incorporated and a thick emulsion is formed (It is very important that the oil is added slowly, especially at the beginning; otherwise the mayonnaise may break).

Transfer the mayo to a nonreactive bowl, stir in the chopped basil, add more salt, pepper, and/or lemon juice to season.  Use immediately, or refrigerate in a nonreactive airtight container for up to a 1 day.

I am submitting this post to Food 'n Flix which is being hosted by Glennis at Can't Believe We Ate.
I am also submitting this to Michelle of Ms. enPlace for her Garden Variety Wednesday event.

Stamping 411 with Cupcakes

Our church card racks are desperately in need of birthday cards.  I was browsing my stash and realized that I had the Cupcake Sizzlits (retired) from Stampin' Up and had NEVER used them!  Then I went looking for an appropriate challenge and...lo and behold...Stamping 411 had the perfect sketch for a big cupcake!


  • Stamps: Stampin' Up Small Script

  • Paper: Stampin' Up Almost Amethyst, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Tea Party dsp

  • Ink: black

  • Accessories: paper crimper, SU dots embossing folder, glitter, saffron ribbon

A quick pencil bag for school


Every year I make a new pencil bag for Katy for school. She is not an over the top girly type so It is usually something in either green or blue. This year is her first year of middle school so it needed to be cool and not elementary too. I think I checked all the right boxes with this one.



I used Monaluna Circa50 that I think is fun and funky, denim, pul on the inside and I tried a plastic film that I had never sewn with before on the front to protect the outer fabric. 


The PUL inside will keep any pen breaks in the bag!

 This is the thin plastic I used to protect the front. I found it at Joann's and it is really cool. Not terrible to work with ( the pul is harder...very slippy!) and it seems to be just what is needed. There was no name on the paper but here is a photo of what it looks like.



Whew, I finished just in the nick of time ( read 10pm the night before the first day of school).


Kim :o)

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Clean&Simple with colourQ

Two of my favorite challenges have teamed up this week - colourQ and clean&simple's Fall to Layout.  Clean&Simple gave us a sketch and then challenged us to use any of the first 99 colourQ challenges.  A big congrats to colourQ for hitting 100 challenges - here's to a hundred more!!





I also have been VERY negligent at passing along an award that I have received (and I even have another that I will pass along next week).  There are so many great blogs out there that I very much want to point out to my readers - I should share these awards right away!!

I received the Pay It Forward award from Caroline at LaceTopDesigns.  Be sure to check out her blog - she recently did a napkin-fold card that will take your breath away!




The rules for accepting this award are:
1. Mention the blogger who gave you the award
2. Link to their blog
3. Pay It Forward to 5 bloggers

Here are five blogs that I definitely want you to visit!

1. Amanda Sevall Designs - you HAVE to check out what she has been doing with the owl punch!

2. I'm in Haven - wonderfully stylish and unique CAS cards.  And if you want a new perspective on life and on living your faith, spend some time reading and praying over her second blog - Noah...His Journey.

3. My Ink Well - I fell in love with her work when I saw an early August post on a Fruity Drink!

4. Created by Tracy - I love when people start following my blog - because if they like my work, I know I will like theirs - and Tracy is no exception.  She's my most recent follower and I LOVE her work!

5. Stamping with Klass - each card has such unique touches and are so beautifully done!

Have fun!

  • Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Charlie Harvest Time (the sentiment)

  • Paper: Stampin' Up Celery, Garden Green, Pumpkin, Razzleberry, Summer Sun, Confetti Tan (sign post), Papertrey Fine Linen (sign), Bo Bunny dsp (really, really old!)

  • Ink: Memento Brown

  • Accessories: Quickutz sign post, All Night Media butterfly punch, Martha Stewart grass punch, Stampin' Up Razzleberry ribbon

Bouncing beach balls with pebbles (ocean not included)

I am very happy to have finished the ball quilt last night! This will be my first project that is all mine!!!! WOO HOO!!!!
Adam and Katy have fallen in love with this quilt and are now begging for their own. 




Adam was sweet enough to hold up the quilt for me.


The cute Malibu Beach monkeys laying out in the sun on the back


The binding is Malibu Monkeys beach balls. Cute little toes peeking out ;o)



A little bit of me on the quilt with love attached :o)



This was my first time trying the pebble quilting and I really love the look. It was very calming to do. I will be using this again.


On the fence since that is where all my quilts tend to end up.



All rolled up and someplace to go! Now to get this baby to Project Linus for 100 Quilts for Kids on Sept 15th :o)






Kim :o)

Monday, August 29, 2011

Go! Baby giveaway at Sara's house!!!!! I mean on her blog :o)


I stole Sara's blog post for today since it is so exciting to share a giveaway!!! Go to Sew Sweetness to enter to win a Accuquilt GO! BABY and three dies to make amazing quilts :o)

Ya can't win if ya don't play!!!!!! I know I am *giggle*



MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 2011







You may have seen my kitchen/dining room chair cushion tutorial here, which I made using my new Accuquilt GO! Baby! I also made this pillow (another free tutorial!) with the GO! Baby!




Well, now it's time to win a GO! Baby machine, complete with 3 dies of your choice!


22 Free Patterns - Download Now




SCS CAS: Bright Krafts

Today's Clean & Simple Challenge at Splitcoast is to use Kraft cardstock along with bright colors.  I thought this cardinal could definitely be bright!!

  • Stamps: Prickley Pear

  • Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Pacific Point

  • Ink: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Pacific Point, Old Olive, Real Red

  • Accessories: Tim Holtz embossing folder, Prickly Pear Cardinal die, Stickles (on branch and snowflakes)

Sunday, August 28, 2011

The planet show..

As I said in my previous post my eldest is totally obsessed with all things Space. At the beginning of this year I helped him make this mobile and without prompting from anyone he made up his own planet show for us, telling us lots of imformation about each planet.
More delish papers and embellies from OA Rocket Age.

 Another gorgeous rocket pin from MLBOW.

Till next time...

LIM: Take 3 Challenges

This week's challenge at Less Is More is to use three of their past challenges.

Before I even reviewed the past challenges, I knew that I would use Week 1 as I hadn't quite figured out how amazing Less Is More would be and didn't start playing until Week 4.  Then I decided I had to try the Acetate challenge because I don't think I even finished reading that week's post before I kenw I wouldn't be playing.  My third choice was easy because the past challenges have included a great variety of basic design principles/challenges.  So, here is my take on the following challenges:

Week 1: Pink, Black and White
Week 6: Off the Edge
Week 11: Acetate
And I guess I also qualify for Spring, Butterflies, In the Frame and Thank You!!



To do the frame, I used a piece of cardstock 1/4" smaller on each side and drew around it with a glue pen before I glittered.  The butterfly is Acetate stamped with Staz-on, then on the backside I applied Crystal Effects and glitter.

Thanks to Less Is More for the first 30 challenges - I look forward to many more!

(This is my second post today.)
  • Stamps: Papertrey Larkspur, Butterfly Dreams, Signature Greetings

  • Paper: white

  • Ink: Staz-On Black

  • Accessories: Glue Pen, glue from Art Institute, acetate

Pea and Mint Soup

If you've been reading my ramblings for awhile then you probably know that I have a way of stockpiling food.  First there were the 27 boxes of pasta I found in my pantry.  Then there was the 7 or so bags of shrimp in my freezer.  Then, just last week, I cleaned the other freezer (we have two freezers because I'm a hoarder) and I found several bags of frozen peas.  And by several I mean more like 5 or 6. Who in the world stocks 5 or 6 bags of peas in their freezer?  Seriously! I don't even know if I can try to explain how or why I did that!

At any rate when soups, sammies and salad week came around at I Heart Cooking Clubs it was a real no brainer as to what I was going to make.  It was definitely going to be a recipe that allowed me to use up all those peas!  When I found Jamie's recipe for Pea and Mint Soup I was so excited to see that it called for 5-1/2 cups of peas....woohoo!  

So, if you're like me and you have a mega ton of peas in your freezer and an astounding amount of mint in your garden, then this recipe is for you!  Not only is it healthy, but we thought it was quite delicious and filling.  My non-soup loving husband even had two bowls.
 Pea and Mint Soup
Adapted from Jamie's Food Revolution by Jamie Oliver
Serves 6-8

2 carrots
2 celery stalks
2 medium onions
2 cloves of garlic
1-3/4 quarts chicken or vegetable broth
olive oil
5-1/2 cups frozen peas
small bunch of fresh mint
salt and freshly ground pepper
optional: 3/4 pound cooked ham or bacon

To make your soup: 
Peel and roughly slice the carrots, celery, onions, and garlic.  Put the broth in a saucepan and heat until boiling.  Put a large saucepan on medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.  Add all your chopped and sliced ingredients to the pan and mix together with a wooden spoon.  Cook for around 10-15 minutes with the lid askew, until the carrots have softened but are still holding their shape, and the onion is lightly golden.  Add the boiling broth to the vegetables.  Add your peas.  Give the soup a good stir and bring to a boil.  Once boiling, allow to simmer for 10 minutes.  Meanwhile, pick your mint leaves.

To serve your soup:
When the peas have softened, remove the pan from the heat.  Season with salt and pepper and add the mint leaves.  Using an immersion blender or liquidizer; pulse the soup until smooth.  If using ham chop it up and stir in.  Heat through before dividing between your serving bowls.  Really nice served with a toasted slice of ciabatta, drizzled with extra virgin oil.



Soups, Salads, and Sammies Week





For Souper Sundays @ Kahakai Kitchen


Friday Mashup with colourQ

I so wanted to play this week's colors at the colourQ color challenge and I immediately envisioned using the Stampin' Up Field Flowers set.  I went looking for a sketch to match and found the Friday Mashup challenge (realizing after the fact that a number of the designers had also used Field Flowers!!)  The "mashup" was to use the sketch along with dry embossing - not a problem for me!!



  • Stamps: Stampin' Up Field Flowers, French Foliage (the script) and Kindness Matters ("Thanks")

  • Paper: Stampin' Up Indigo, Olive, White and Razzleberry dsp (the Curry flower)

  • Ink: Stampin' Up Indigo (the background is stamped off once), Olive, Pumpkin, Curry

  • Accessories: Tim Holtz Embossing Folder, Stampin' Up Flower Burst and Butterfly Embosslits, Olive grosgrain, gems.

Earthquakes, hurricanes, the start of school and a finished quilt top ...oh my!

It has been an interesting week here in Virginia. An earthquake, a hurricane and the start of school. With all the tizzy surrounding the first two the last one tugged at my heart strings an awful lot. My sweet baby girl started middle school. Big step for my little girl.

My heart goes out to all the people that had damage to their property from both of the natural disasters and for the loss of life in the hurricane. I hope my friends in the northeast will continue to take cover and stay safe!!!!!!!

Since I was housebound yesterday, I was able to get some work completed on the ball quilt for the 100 Quilts For Kids. If you have not checked it out please do, it is a great cause!!!!!



Yesterday I was able to complete my color blocks


Do the applique and placement


And finish the quilt top!!!!


 I think I will add sashing and start the quilting today :o)





I hope that everyone stays safe!!!!!

Kim 

Saturday, August 27, 2011

It's Pink Saturday!! Mike Flanagan...




And normally that is such a happy thing...but here in the Baltimore area and in the baseball world things are not so cheery this week:( In fact, since Wednesday we  have been in shock. We have been grieving. 


The Baltimore Orioles and the Baseball world have lost a  Beloved and Favorite Son, Mike Flanagan.
The 1979 Cy Young award winner was more than just a ball player, he was family. He was found on his property on Wednesday afternoon and we are all in shock. His fellow teammates and broadcasters are in tears as they speak about him and the articles written are nothing short of accolades. Mike was family. He was loved and respected by all. His untimely death is a shock and the fact that it is being said that he has committed suicide is a blow to all of us...Did he not know how we all loved, admired, and respected him? How could he think that anyone held him responsible for the teams decline? Could that really be it? They say there can be no way to reason these things...
All I know is that it is heartbreaking...no one around here is unaffected it seems...
There have been many things written but my favorite is this...

Tim Kurkjian: "No one made me laugh like Mike Flanagan. Tonight, he made me cry."

Below is a link to a video tribute that the orioles played after the first inning last night...the ever classy NY Yankees came out of their dugout and to a man, stood with caps in hand to watch and then applaud...It is short...after all the game must go on...


RIP Mike Flanagan... 
I wish you had known how much we loved you while you were here...I thought you did...



Mike was 59 and leaves behind a wife and 3 daughters.

I am sorry if this brought you pink ladies down...but this is to be a tribute and I did include some pink:)
Join Beverly @ howsweetthesound for some cheerier pink posts:)