tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19223709889042073322024-03-12T20:55:55.760-04:00MicheleGeeSeeMicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-86502102398931412892015-06-14T17:04:00.000-04:002015-06-14T17:04:00.732-04:00Deviled Eggs!!!I love deviled eggs!! They are so good for potlucks, family dinners, picnics, brunches...anytime. I used to make them the way my mom did....a little mayo, a little mustard, a little pickle relish, and a little of the pickle juice. There was no recipe. That was just the way we did it.<br />
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That is until I found the deviled egg secret ingredient. The thing that will put your deviled eggs over the top. Butter!!!<br />
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I first found <a href="http://communalskillet.com/2011/11/15/deviled-eggs/">this recipe</a> in the Southern Folkways Alliance Community Cookbook. And I recently found <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/16850-virginia-willis-deviled-eggs">this one</a> in the Food52 Genius Recipes cookbook.<br />
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They are similar...mayo, dijon mustard, butter, salt, pepper. One includes lemon juice. The proportions are a little different. You could play with that to get them just the way you love them.</div>
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I made a few this afternoon.</div>
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<br />MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-12570122206361864182015-04-12T16:57:00.000-04:002015-04-12T17:08:11.060-04:00My Home Ec LifeCelebrating the end of my tax season by getting back to my home-ec life! I just finished the last return. I don't do many anymore...just for the family and for a few people that I like. I hate to do them at the last minute.<br />
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Home-ec life...kind of funny. When I was 13, and starting the 8th grade, my family moved...to just another small town. Not fun!! The guidance counselor at the new school insisted that I take home economics. It was bad enough that I had to leave all my friends and go to a school where I could not take the advanced classes that I had planned (I wasn't that smart..just skipping 8th grade English and 8th grade math and starting on a foreign language). The new school wouldn't let me do that and there were very few electives...study hall or home ec...shop and ag were not an option for girls.</div>
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I hated the sewing machine and my biscuits were like rocks. I continued to try to sew through high school but my mother would always finish the projects that I screwed up. The few times that I tried cooking for the family were laughable. I particularly remember the Hawaiian meatballs...really???</div>
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I continued to do cross-stitch, crochet, and embroidery for a while....and learned to be a pretty decent cook. But I still have unfinished projects from 25 years ago. But now I just want to make food and dolls and a few other things from time to time. </div>
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This afternoon I cooked to clean out the refrigerator. I made <a href="http://joythebaker.com/2015/03/new-orleans-red-beans-and-rice/">red beans and rice</a> which we will eat tomorrow night and for lunch a few days. I had an onion that was about to sprout and homemade chicken broth in the freezer. For dinner I am fixing these <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2015/03/cornmeal-fried-pork-chops-goat-cheese-smashed-potatoes/">pork chops and potatoes</a> with roasted green beans. The potatoes and beans have to be cooked today...and I probably should pour out the buttermilk that the chops are marinating in now. It smells okay.</div>
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But this was my best use of refrigerator scraps today.</div>
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Farro, olive oil, lemon zest, orange zest, lemon juice, orange juice, red bell pepper, sweet onion, roasted asparagus, carrot, pancetta!</div>
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And this is why I had an orange half, a lemon half, and a little asparagus in the refrigerator.</div>
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It is <a href="http://www.recipegirl.com/2015/04/02/citrus-roasted-asparagus/">citrus roasted asparagus</a> and it was great with <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/cheesy-shrimp-and-grits-casserole">shrimp and grits casserole</a> for Easter brunch.</div>
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MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-86974267508531399152014-11-16T16:42:00.000-05:002014-11-16T16:42:22.218-05:00Sunday Before ThanksgivingI don't know what got into me...maybe trying to avoid yard work...but I spent a good deal of the day in the kitchen. I wanted to get something done for Thanksgiving weekend, I went to the farmer's market yesterday, and I had quite a few green cherry tomatoes to do something with...not to mention the two packages of cream cheese that had expired and the two tubes of crescent rolls that we have had since June. Nothing should go to waste.<br />
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I started at 8:30 with these. Cheddar and Jalapeno Muffins. I wrote about them <a href="http://michelegc-michelegeesee.blogspot.com/search/label/Yummy%20Food">here</a>. I found the <a href="http://joythebaker.com/2013/04/too-much-cheddar-and-jalapeno-muffins/">recipe</a> on the Joy the Baker website. I have put them in the freezer for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning or on the day after. There will be five of us here for breakfast and eighteen for dinner. Breakfast will get very little attention.<br />
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After the muffins I moved on to that huge bunch of kale that I bought yesterday at the farmers' market....at least I think it was kale. After I got it home I wasn't sure but it is some kind of dark green and it is now in this salad with bacon, sunflower seeds, and parmesan cheese. Cara sent this <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/31454-kale-and-brussels-sprout-salad-with-honey-balsamic-dressing">recipe</a> to me a few weeks ago. The original also used brussel sprouts but I think it works just as well without.</div>
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I salvaged a few cherry tomatoes on Friday morning before the frost that night.</div>
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The ripe ones went into a <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2014/10/oven-roasted-tomato-sauce-salami-olive-pecorino-recipe.html">pasta sauce</a> last night. The green one became pickles today. I used the recipe from The Lee Brothers Simple Fresh Southern cookbook. It is like <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/green-tomato-pickles">this one</a> except it has sliced ginger instead of garlic. They are refrigerator pickles and should keep at least two weeks.</div>
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After cleaning up the huge mess I had made I remembered the cream cheese and crescent rolls in the refrigerator. I had bought the rolls in June to make <a href="http://myellowumbrella.com/2010/10/26/sopapilla-cheesecake/">this</a>. For some reason I didn't and we aren't big bread eaters so they were still there. So this sopapilla cheesecake was made. It is quite good but will have to go to work with me tomorrow. I think my coworkers will be happy.</div>
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<br />MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-86446346589896411142014-08-03T17:52:00.000-04:002014-08-03T17:52:28.102-04:00Dolls for My Girls (from their drawings)I need to write about these dolls. I had planned them for a very long time and finally finished them this spring. They now live in Brooklyn and I hope they are well taken care of. It was truly a labor of love.<br />
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They are modeled after drawings that my girls did when they were about 3 1/2 years old. I saved the drawings...they are in a frame on a shelf in my bedroom. Some time ago I saw...maybe on Etsy or some blog or somewhere...dolls modeled after children's drawings. </div>
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I had no idea how to start...so I just did. I enlarged the pictures at home on our printer/copier. The entire pattern fit an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper. I used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sulky-11-Inch-Printable-Fabri-Solvy-Stabilizer/dp/B004R2B3NU/ref=sr_1_2/182-7807148-5050012?ie=UTF8&qid=1407100470&sr=8-2&keywords=sulky+sticky+stabilizer">Sulky Sticky Fabri-Sollvy</a> (a self-adhesive, fabric-like, water soluble stabilizer...magic stuff) to transfer the pattern to linen cloth (an old pair of my pants). I still wasn't sure what to do next. So I just started. I did the long-legged guy first.<br />
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I used whatever embroidery stitch felt right. There is a lot of chain stitch. It made a bolder outline and I love filling in with it. I hadn't planned on the hair but I love it. You can't see it well but the drawing does have a tuft of yellow-gold hair.<br />
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The back of this doll is made from Dad's old t-shirt....I included Jo's (the artist) initials, the date the picture was drawn, and my initials.<br />
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I used chain stitch again on the second doll. The skirt is made from a scrap of batik that Cara brought back from her study-abroad in Ghana. The circles are stitched with a running stitch to give it more texture. My friend, Karen, gave me some pointers on this one as I was making it. The back of this doll is made from a skirt that I wore to Cara's graduation from Guilford College.<br />
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I have plans to do this again. My mentee, Meosha, drew a snail that I hope to finish some time soon.<br />
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Like the dolls, I will just start stitching.<br />
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<br />MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-29980201546606932652014-06-29T17:43:00.000-04:002014-06-29T17:43:21.612-04:00Bat SeasonFor seven years this was Bat Season at our house...last two weeks in June through the first week in July. Bats came to visit...in our house....just for a few evenings. But that is quite enough...or should I say too much. They would usually visit two or three nights in a row...then go away. Sometimes there were only three or four and one year there were about two dozen. There may have been more. Sometimes Bill would not tell me about them. He became quite good at getting them out of the house. Either the ceiling fans would knock them down to the floor or he/we would use a broom. Then with a gloved hand he would escort them out the door. I have been home alone a few times and had to do it myself. I don't like it. Nor do I like him to be out of town during the season. But he is...right now. <br />
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They didn't visit last year. And they haven't been this year....yet. We don't know why they were ever here in the first place so we have no idea what happened to them.<br />
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But, just in case, I am going to honor Bat Season by sharing pictures of a couple of my favorite bats.<br />
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I made this <a href="http://www.dosmallthingswithlove.com/2013/09/felt-bat-halloween-brooch.html">bat pin</a> last fall for a young friend. Easy and quick to make and a nice Halloween touch.</div>
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And on Christmas Eve I found this on my front porch....a gift from a neighbor. He still hangs on the porch protecting us from his friends...I hope.</div>
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MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-18613918251637921702014-03-09T17:01:00.000-04:002014-03-09T17:01:12.234-04:00SharingSometimes I find something on the intertube (my brother's name for it), or try a recipe, or hear music that I want to share but pictures of the food are very unappetizing (although the food was awesome) mostly because I took them in the dark, I won't have time to try that project for months (or years), and it is always a good time for good music. So, that being said you (if you are listening) should know about these things.<br />
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Just in case you missed her, Mayhem, a really cute kid who makes paper dresses with her mom. It appears that mom is pretty involved in this but cool nonetheless. 2sister_angie on Instagram.<br />
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And when I showed this to Cara she dubbed Mayhem the real-life Quinoa, "my imaginary well-dressed toddler daughter." Check out the Pinterest board <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/tiffanywbwg/my-imaginary-well-dressed-toddler-daughter/">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2014/02/the-best-pie-youve-never-tried-skillet-sugar-pie.html">This recipe</a> for Sugar Pie. Pretty delicious!<br />
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And this music! <a href="http://www.shovelsandrope.com/">Shovels & Rope</a>. We heard them in September at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion.<br />
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<br />MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-48958914474313297542014-02-11T18:27:00.000-05:002014-02-11T18:27:27.220-05:00Happy Valentine WeekWe used to make a big deal of Valentine's Day....not in a romantic way at all....but as an excuse to buy treats for the girls. We decorated a little tree with hearts (wonder what happened to those?) and the Valentine Monster visited with fun things. Some day I want to revive the Valentine Monster in the form of a softie...why didn't I think of that a few weeks ago?<br />
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I have been working on a Valentine project as a way to practice embroidery. And I have been using this project as a way to stay awake while watching television in the evening. It is another <a href="http://www.shinyhappyworld.com/store/products/heart-valentines-day-stitch-along-club">Wendi Gratz pattern</a>.<br />
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You could do a lot with these. The pattern shows them as a mobile. You could make them into sachets or brooches too. For now these will just reside in the Valentine bowl with a couple of knitted, felted hearts that a made a few years ago and a couple of <a href="http://wildolive.blogspot.com/2013/11/project-simple-gift.html">Wild Olive hearts</a> that I made with my mentee, Meosha, </div>
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<br />MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-2263962466759998262014-02-09T15:45:00.000-05:002014-02-09T15:48:09.932-05:00Elephants and Bears<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Actually the title should be Elephant (singular) and Bears. Hopefully there will be more elephants and there will definitely be more bears. We have been accumulating old t-shirts for years. Both of my girls have quilts made from their t-shirts. Cara made her own...with a little help from me...and I made Jo's several years later. I have also made scarves, reusable grocery bags, and aprons from t-shirts. But one can only gift so many aprons, one only needs so many grocery bags, and I don't think the scarves were much of a hit. I decided it was time to get a little more creative.</div>
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This elephant is made from the same pattern that I used for a <a href="http://michelegc-michelegeesee.blogspot.com/2013/06/softies.html">red fleece elephant</a> last spring. The pattern is by Wendi Gratz of <a href="http://www.shinyhappyworld.com/">Shiny Happy World</a>. Fleece is definitely easier to sew than t-shirt fabric. The t-shirt fabric curls and puckers and crawls. I use a lot of pins. He is pretty soft and cuddly...sort of marsh mallowy.</div>
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The bears are also from one of Wendi's patterns. The pattern is what I would call baby-size but you could easily enlarge it. But this size is great for showcasing interesting bear bellys. I have already found and cut out more bellys for more bears.<br />
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<br />MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-1936863432961100252014-02-02T14:13:00.003-05:002014-02-03T16:54:01.020-05:00Cheddar and Jalapeno MuffinsWhat is it about January that makes one want to eat mass quantities of cheese? This couldn't be good for ones digestive system. But we have found ourselves doing just that. There was the <a href="http://www.alexandracooks.com/2010/01/07/vermont-cheddar-cheese-soup-beer-bread-yum-yum/">Vermont Cheddar Cheese Soup</a> a couple of weeks ago. I love that soup. And then, the same weekend, there was <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-ham-and-linguine-casser-137508">Ham and Linguine Casserol</a>e (made with the leftover Thanksgiving/Christmas ham...yes, it has been in the freezer...taking up way too much space). Last weekend I noticed that I had all these little nubs of leftover cheese....and two containers of leftover rice (how did that happen?) and leftover quinoa. Time for rice cakes...oh my. Just dump the rice/quinoa, grated cheese, chopped onions (or whatever you have) and an egg (or more depending on how much needs to be bound together). Make little cakes and fry them up in some canola oil. So good!!!<br />
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And today, while watching the Super Bowl, we will indulge in a treat I have only seen eaten in South Hill, VA....Ritz crackers, sharp cheddar, and sweet onions. I swear it is just delicious.<br />
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All this cheese has made me think of <a href="http://joythebaker.com/2013/04/too-much-cheddar-and-jalapeno-muffins/">Cheddar and Jalapeno Muffins</a> that I made in August to take to a weekend-long family wedding event in Asheville, NC. There were lots of people staying in three houses and elsewhere. I took muffins to help feed the masses. They were so good and cheesy.<br />
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So I need an excuse to make these again. I always need an excuse for baking. I can't just have this stuff around the house. We are going to Brooklyn at the end of the month....on the train...seven of us. A six-hour train trip means food and drink and lots of fun. And these muffins will be perfect with a long tall bloody mary :).<br />
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<br />MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-36378969351180929222014-01-19T17:37:00.003-05:002014-01-19T17:37:37.294-05:00Vermont Cheddar Cheese SoupSeveral years ago I found this <a href="http://www.alexandracooks.com/2010/01/07/vermont-cheddar-cheese-soup-beer-bread-yum-yum/">recipe</a> for cheddar cheese soup while wasting time reading blogs. It turned out that I wasn't wasting my time after all. I love this soup! And there is a big pot of it on the stove right now.<br />
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A few thoughts and tips....You could make it vegetarian by using olive oil to cook the vegetables, but the flavor of the pancetta is wonderful. Use good sharp cheddar cheese. I used half Cabot Creamery Seriously Sharp and half Kraft Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp. And the method used in the recipe for adding the cheese and flour really does work. <br />
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Now I have almost-burned banana bread that I am going to try to salvage by making a bread pudding with it...hope it works.MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-28242107223586696452014-01-01T13:37:00.003-05:002014-01-01T13:37:39.609-05:00Black-eyed PeasYou need to make these. And there is still time to do it today...for good luck in 2014. I started them about 10:30 this morning and have already had 2 (small) bowls. I want more.<br />
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The recipe is from the cookbook Edible Brooklyn, the Cookbook. Our friends gave it to us for Christmas.<br />
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I think they are the best black-eyed peas I have ever had. I generally cook them for New Year's Day but only because I think that I am supposed to. These may be life-changing. Bill just said that my "assessment was not hyperbolic." I think his New Year's resolution must be to use more big words.<br />
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<b>Black-eyed Peas</b></div>
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<b>1/2 lb. sliced bacon, cut in half crosswise into batons</b></div>
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<b>2 large onion, chopped</b></div>
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<b>4 cloves garlic, chopped </b></div>
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<b>4 oz. prosciutto, diced</b></div>
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<b>1 16 oz. bag dry black-eyed peas, soaked overnight and drained</b></div>
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<b>2 15 oz. cans black-eyed peas, drained</b></div>
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<b>1 bay leaf</b></div>
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<b>1/4 cup white wine</b></div>
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<b>2 cups chicken stock</b></div>
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<b>1 T. rice wine vinegar, preferably brown</b></div>
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<b>2 cups canned green chiles or toasted, peeled, and seeded fresh New Mexican green hatch chiles</b></div>
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<b>freshly ground black pepper</b></div>
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<b>1. In a large, heavy pot with a lid cook the bacon over medium-high heat until the edges just begin to brown. Add the onions and garlic, and saute until translucent. Add the prosciutto and cook until it just begins to brown, 3-4 minutes.</b></div>
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<b>2. Add the black-eyed peas and bay leaf, and cover with white wine, stock, and vinegar, adding water if the liquid doesn't cover the contents of the pot. Cover and cook over medium-high heat, reducing the heat if it starts to boil over, for 15-20 minutes. REduce the heat slightly and add the green chiles and the salt and pepper to taste.</b></div>
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<b>3. Continue to simmer uncovered for 15-30 minutes more, tasting from time to time and adding salt and pepper, if needed, until the soaked peas are cooked through and tender. (The canned peas will be a little mushier, but that's okay.)</b></div>
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Happy New Year!!!</div>
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MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-73514353714290101272013-12-18T21:01:00.000-05:002013-12-18T21:01:56.665-05:00Christmas SlowlyThanksgiving was late this year. I am busy at work this year. I probably have some other excuses for not being ready for Christmas...I never really am. But slowly some things are getting done and what doesn't get done just doesn't get done.<br />
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I wanted to buy more presents for the girls but I have waited too late. They really shouldn't mind getting surprises in January and February, should they? After all they are awesome mature adults who understand that their mother is a little overwhelmed :).<br />
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I started with wreaths and then got stalled. I have made some cookies and I have finally decorated the tree.</div>
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This wreath is new this year. My friend, Kathleen, made it from tin can lids and vintage balls. I think it is beautiful and that she is really talented. And I am a little jealous.</div>
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I did make a few new tree ornaments. It is one of those things that I like to do...that keeps me from doing those boring mundane household chores. These ornaments were made from patterns from <a href="http://www.betzwhite.com/">Betz White</a>. They are all fairly easy...the instructions sometimes said to glue but I decided to sew....glue didn't seem to hold.</div>
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There is more to do....presents to wrap, cakes to bake, and a few more gifts to buy. Getting busy!!!MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-49947791939924508472013-12-09T19:02:00.000-05:002013-12-09T19:02:21.090-05:00Stitching<div style="text-align: left;">
A couple of years ago I decided that I needed to work on my stitching...embroidery...skills. When I was in high school...many, many years ago..I was pretty good. My Navy issue bell-bottom jeans were covered with every stitch imaginable. Unfortunately, the class at the Visual Arts Center that I signed up for was cancelled. So when I found an online "<a href="http://wildolive.blogspot.com/p/autumn-stitching-club-by-wildolive-on.html">Autumn Stitching Club</a>" at Wild Olive (for only $5) I decided to sign up. The patterns are really not my style. Cute would be the description. But it forced me to practice and I now have a finished product. I love finished products. And I now love hexagons.</div>
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So what in the world will I do with this? Well, my younger daughter, Joanna, is a preschool teacher in Brooklyn. And I think it would be the perfect addition to a preschool class. What a great conversation prompt and what a great way to introduce the seasons.</div>
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So I have also signed up for the <a href="http://wildolive.blogspot.com/p/autumn-stitching-club-by-wildolive-on.html">Winter Stitching Club</a>. Jo, look for more stuff for your classroom!!</div>
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<br />MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-71549422504268812782013-12-07T17:13:00.002-05:002013-12-07T17:13:25.264-05:00Kale & Brussels Sprouts SaladLess than a week before I had not finalized our Thanksgiving menu. I knew we would have the old stand-bys...turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, etc....but I was looking for a new side...and not sweet potatoes. I had considered brussels sprouts and I had considered a kale salad. While doing something in the kitchen on the Saturday before I was sort of watching the live Thanksgiving special on the Food Network. They were making a kale and brussels sprouts salad. Hmmmmm...<br />
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So that was added to the menu. And it was a hit. With most people. It has shredded brussels sprouts, chopped kale, endive, almonds, gorgonzola cheese, and bacon with a mustard viniagrette. Yum!! The recipe is<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/kale-and-gorgonzola-salad-recipe/index.html"> here</a>.<br />
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I plan to make this for Christmas too. I will leave out the bacon and add dried cranberries, I think. There are a few vegetarians in the Christmas group and the red & green colors will be quite festive. I may sub fennel for the endive too. <br />
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<br />MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-5209917571987036442013-10-20T16:35:00.001-04:002013-10-20T16:36:10.420-04:00Finished StitchesSeveral weeks ago Wendi Gratz of <a href="http://www.shinyhappyworld.com/">Shiny Happy World</a> started a project that she called Finished Stitches. In the course of years designing embroidery patterns, she had accumulated quite a few finished projects. So she offered to give them away to her loyal blog followers. The only thing that she asked was that recipients make the piece into a "finished something." For the cost of shipping I nabbed one of her projects. She plans to award prizes and one of the prizes will be for Fan Favorite. The voting started on Wednesday and so far I'm not doing too well. So if you love me and want to vote for my project this is the <a href="http://www.shinyhappyworld.com/Finished%20Stitches%20Embroidery%20Challenge">link</a>. And no matter how cool you think that baby mobile is, be strong.<br />
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I made my piece into a tote bag. I know, not that original. But I gave myself a challenge...no new fabric. So this tote is made from corduroy and upholstery scraps that I had in my stash. The only thing that I bought to finish the project was fusible fleece...cool stuff. I used<a href="http://www.studioefabrics.com/media/uploads/2012/10/05/files/Calypso_Tote.pdf"> this pattern</a>. The first time I used it I received a compliment...and I am quite fond of it....so all is good.<br />
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<br />MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-43126373168522143472013-09-08T13:52:00.000-04:002013-09-08T13:52:58.164-04:00The Summer It Rained<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It rained a lot this summer. It rained so much that things grew in my yard (but not necessarily in an orderly fashion). So before the summer is gone I wanted to document the summer it rained and things grew in my yard.</div>
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Like marigolds and lantana.</div>
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Like tomatoes...although the plants that I planted fed the squirrels more than they did us. But the volunteer plant beside the house (I have no idea how it got there) has become a tomato-making machine.</div>
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This impatiens also volunteered. </div>
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The crepe myrtles were pretty again.</div>
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There were so many butterflies.</div>
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And my favorites....the sunflowers....only two plants grown from seed. </div>
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<br />MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-87576480073630214872013-09-01T21:43:00.000-04:002013-09-02T08:52:12.688-04:00Jonathan LivingInSanFrancisco Seagull<div style="text-align: center;">
The last pattern for the <a href="http://www.shinyhappyworld.com/six-months-of-softies">Six Months of Softies</a> was a seagull...really, a seagull? It was bad enough that the fifth one was a raccoon (gross little..well, not so little...rodent). Seagulls are just disgusting. They are especially disgusting when they are scavenging two hours inland...in my Target parking lot.</div>
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But I made it. And making it was pretty painless. And it turned out soooo well.</div>
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The body is made from a $1 fat quarter. The wings are made from Bill's old shirt and my old skirt. I have no idea where I got the red flannel. I sewed the eyes on because I thought I might give it to our great-niece...and I did....although it was pretty hard to part with (I really need to get over this).</div>
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So this is Jonathan LivingInSanFrancisco Seagull ready for his trip to Asheville, NC to meet up with the lovely Camille (8 months old...the cutest baby ever). Camille will take him to live with her right outside of San Francisco and I hope that they have a lovely life together.<br>
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MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-48102721392878629182013-08-06T18:03:00.000-04:002013-08-06T18:03:55.304-04:00Rodent With A HatI finished the fifth softie in the <a href="http://www.shinyhappyworld.com/six-months-of-softies">Six Months of Softies</a> club. I almost didn't. It is a hand-sewn raccoon. I really don't like raccoons at all. I didn't find it the least bit charming. But the whole purpose of doing this project was to make myself learn some new things so I charged ahead.<br />
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It had a bazillion pieces so cutting it out was even challenging, not to mention keeping up with all the pieces. I was determined to not buy any new felt for this and thankfully that worked out. I would have made a green raccoon if I had to.<br />
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The head went together pretty easily but then things got confusing...for me. So I moved on to the accessories for a break...hat, backpack, fish. But eventually I had to go back to the rodent.<br />
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Finally he was finished and is even a little more appealing than anticipated. I am, however, looking for a home for him. Raccoons can not live here...at least not inside.<br />
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<br />MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-67812734241397871122013-07-21T16:52:00.000-04:002013-07-21T16:52:39.941-04:00Cherry Hand PiesLast weekend I traveled to southside Virginia for my niece's engagement party. It wasn't a big party, but instead, a chance for the families to get to know each other. I offered to make something for the party but my brother and his partner, Karen, had everything under control. I did go early on Saturday to help set up. Karen made everything look special.<br />
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Since I wasn't cooking for the party I decided to make <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/07/cherry-hand-pies-recipe.html?ref=search">cherry hand pies</a> to share with Dick and Karen. I had never made hand pies and I have not been big on making pie crust (I am coming around), but I had a bag of cherries in the refrigerator that had been there a while...."use it or lose it" is my new motto....and I had everything I needed on hand.</div>
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Okay, pitting cherries is awful...especially when you don't have a cherry pitter. And it makes such a mess.</div>
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The pie crust went together well but was sort of hard to roll (oh, so much butter). I used the crust recipe suggested and followed the directions exactly. Far be it for me to start messing with pie crust recipes. </div>
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See that big chunk of butter!!!</div>
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I tried one when they first came out of the oven and then ate another one for breakfast before I left for the party. I did manage to take the rest with me. There was so much going on that I wasn't sure that they were even noticed so when I got home on Sunday I left a message for my brother...either eat them or put them in the freezer.</div>
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I got an email from him the next day. The message was something like, "I didn't think I liked cherry pie. That was the best pie I have ever had."...slightly exaggerated I am sure.</div>
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MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-69181297011584710692013-07-17T13:40:00.000-04:002013-07-17T13:40:38.832-04:00Best Friends DollI like <a href="http://gingermelondolls.blogspot.com/">Gingermelon</a> dolls a lot. Gingermelon is Shelly Down from British Columbia. Almost a year ago I made one of her <a href="http://michelegc-michelegeesee.blogspot.com/2012/09/gingermelon-doll.htmlhttp://michelegc-michelegeesee.blogspot.com/2012/09/gingermelon-doll.html">Pocket Pixies</a>. Since then I have gotten better at some things...like the ladder stitch which is used to sew a head onto a neck. But I am still lousy at the whip stitch/overcast stitch. While making the Gingermelon Best Friend doll I tried using a blanket stitch instead. I kind of like the results. <br />
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Here she is in the dress and shoes that are part of the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/155991662/best-friends-doll-pdf-pattern-instant?ref=shop_home_active">original pattern</a>. You may notice that she looks slightly (or a lot) cross-eyed. I call that maker-error.</div>
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I also made clothes. There are Gingermelon patterns for that too. And with one or two patterns to get you started the wardrobe possibilities are endless.</div>
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And just in time for Independence Day...</div>
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The entire doll and the clothes are all hand-sewn and pretty easy....easy enough for a young beginner.</div>
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MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-60305630445772618422013-07-10T17:48:00.000-04:002013-07-10T17:48:25.560-04:00More SoftiesSo this is more from the <a href="http://www.shinyhappyworld.com/six-months-of-softies">Six Months of Softies</a> that I wrote about <a href="http://michelegc-michelegeesee.blogspot.com/2013/06/softies.html#links">here</a> and <a href="http://michelegc-michelegeesee.blogspot.com/2013/06/owl-girl.html#links">here</a>. This one has been the hardest (for me) so far.<br />
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I am calling him Charlie. His fancy bandana is a vintage handkerchief.</div>
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The fifth pattern in Six Months of Softies should be released this week.</div>
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MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-60867330673534425632013-07-07T13:20:00.001-04:002013-07-07T13:20:47.119-04:00The Best Squash CasseroleSummer squash is one of my favorite vegetables...not because it is all that flavorful, but probably because my mother made the best sauteed squash with onions. I would eat plates of it. I have never been able to make it exactly that way.<br />
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Squash casserole is another way that we ate summer squash when I was growing up. Some of them were quite tasty and some of them were just plain awful.<br />
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But this, hands down, is <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/summer-squash-gratin-recipe.html">the best squash casserole</a> that I have ever had. Heidi Swanson of 101 Cookbooks calls it Summer Squash Gratin, which it is, but if I put it in a casserole dish with a bunch of other stuff it becomes "casserole."<br />
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I had several yellow squash in my CSA box this week. (You can also use zucchini or a combination or the two.) And I have an abundance of oregano in the herb garden. I always have homemade bread crumbs in the freezer and I also had swiss cheese that came in the CSA box a couple of weeks ago. I only needed to buy potatoes. I guess you could leave those out and put in more squash but the potatoes really enhance the texture of the whole thing.<br />
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It is a little time consuming. Make the sauce, slice the squash and potatoes, brown the butter for the bread crumbs, grate the cheese. But it is so worth it. And it is just as good leftover. Enjoy!<br />
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<br />MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-57479803024775337812013-07-04T19:44:00.000-04:002013-07-07T13:07:25.214-04:00It's the 4th of July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Fourth of July--Robert Earl Keen</div>
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Happy Independence Day!!!</div>
<br />MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-55577870926660392682013-06-19T17:27:00.000-04:002013-06-19T17:27:07.878-04:00Summer Challenge<div style="text-align: center;">
Every other week we get a box of local produce delivered to our house by Dominion Harvest. The box also includes a dozen fresh eggs and some type of locally produced cheese. It is sometimes a challenge to use everything in the box. The latest box included goat cheese, which isn't hard to use but some of it ended up in <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/spicy-red-wine-spaghetti-recipe/index.html">Spicy Red Wine Spaghetti</a>...yum! And I used the sugar snap peas in <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/">Bowties with Sugar Snaps, Lemon, and Ricotta</a>. I still have mustard greens and a ton of broccoli.</div>
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There was also a little lavender in the box. I didn't want that to go to waste. I remembered a <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/glazed-lavender-tea-cake-10000001157608/">lavender tea cake recipe</a> that I used to make when I had lavender in the yard.</div>
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I had everything on hand except yogurt. I really didn't want to go to the store for yogurt. I figured that I could substitute sour cream or buttermilk...but I didn't have that either. The cupboard and the refrigerator were pretty bare. So I made buttermillk with milk (the last of the milk actually) and vinegar. It works.</div>
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The cake smelled so good cooking.</div>
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And tasted so good...especially while it was still warm.</div>
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I don't think I ate the whole loaf by myself...but almost. That is why I only bake occassionally.</div>
MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922370988904207332.post-77636340104756256502013-06-14T13:17:00.000-04:002013-06-14T13:17:21.251-04:00Owl Girl<div style="text-align: center;">
Owl Girl is the third pattern in the <a href="http://www.shinyhappyworld.com/six-months-of-softies">Six Months of Softies</a> club. The <a href="http://michelegc-michelegeesee.blogspot.com/2013/06/softies.html">first two</a> were primarily made with the sewing machine....which still somewhat scares me. I just hate it when that bobbin thread gets all bunched up and even though I try to do everything right it still happens from time to time. </div>
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This doll is made all by hand. It looked really time-consuming but once I got started I couldn't stop so it really wasn't that bad. I'm not happy with my overcast stitch yet but I'm working on it. </div>
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Besides the sheer coolness of a doll with a mask, her arms and legs actually bend so that you can pose her.</div>
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And she has an owl hand puppet also.</div>
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<br />MicheleGChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481122757098155297noreply@blogger.com0