February 2008

There are times when you hope the mail carrier has a parcel, simply because you wish to open the door and share the delightful scent of baked something-or-other.

It’s too cold to open windows, and there are few people out strolling anyway. Most passersby are moving quickly to keep warm, their attention on slippery sidewalks…not on the lingering fumes of chocolate shaking hands with flour, greeting the eggs, and kissing sugar on both cheeks.

I have no idea how this is going to taste, but it smells lovely. The scent is sort of nondescript comfort-ish, and rather nice. I can’t place it, but I’m appreciating it anyway.

Pantry Shelf Chocolate Orange Cake comes from this recipe book.

Half of the inspiration for this project is in Denyse Schmidt’s book. She sewed some scraps together, set a smaller photo on top (so you can see some of the background), and put the whole thing behind glass (she used a clip frame).

I thought this was a stellar idea. Then I saw this card at Paper-Source.

A project was born, which loosely combines the two.

And here’s how it finished up (with a photo of me, for the minute, because it happened to be in the workshop and will work for demonstration).

The frame is five by seven inches (the bobbin in the photo at the top of the post gives a bit of scale).

Here is a close-up of the embroidery. I assure you it’s not fancy, but functional.

Start with the following quote:

“The way to succeed is to double your error rate.”
–Thomas J. Watson

This is true up to a point (quilt squares: yes, delicate surgery: probably no).

Mix in a recipes-to-download-for-free site.

Add a large helping of reading the Orangette blog.

End up thinking you could make quite a few superb changes to that lentil-soup recipe. And if they aren’t superb, well, maybe that’s upping your error rate on the road to success?

In the end, I trusted half my instincts (and added more pepper, some barley, some carrots, a potato, more coriander, and more cumin. The other half of my instincts I ignored (ginger, pumpkin, celery, tomato paste, curry).

The result was a spiced-up version of the soup I always make. Warm, filling, and just…nice. It’s not going to win any awards for originality, though.

Lentil soup recipe to change, add, subtract, alter, and generally ignore

1 cup lentils
garlic (2-4 cloves), browned first (either with olive oil or butter)
coriander 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp
cumin 1/2 tsp to 3/4 tsp
pepper (1 tsp to 1 Tb)
salt (2 tsp to 2 Tb)
plus whatever else sounds good to you

Some recipes add lemon juice and onion (I am actually not an onion fan, and use them only in special B-centered meals).

Boil everything in about 8 cups of water for 30 minutes. Then let simmer for another 30 minutes. If you have the time, take it. It won’t hurt it to cook even longer.

I made two blocks last fall, but couldn’t think of what to do with them. Yesterday I made them into a bag.

I have had that square button for at least 10 years. It was the only one of its kind (found in my mom’s button bin…she didn’t remember buying it, but there it was all the same).

I was going to do a loop over the top, around the button like this, but I changed my mind. Snaps for the minute, and maybe velcro later?

Here is the other side

Lining is simple, soft muslin. (Strap is wide grosgrain.)

the finished product, above

the ingredients, below

(I use this filling recipe, but I bake the samosas instead of deep-frying them; also, I use egg roll wrappers)

make a wish

Dense Chocolate Loaf Cake recipe comes from this charming book

My oldest niece used to call this day “Valentimes.” (Now she’s almost nine and fancies herself too old for juvenile language.)

(card is from smudgeink.com)

We’re not the only house with a birthday in it today: There are at least two more (one, two).

The best gift ever

And, as birthdays sometimes get people talking about aging…

It’s B’s birthday but my hair.

The last time I got my hair cut (by someone other than B), the stylist suggested that I color my hair. I protested, saying that color would cover my gray hairs! It’s no wonder they give me odd looks when I go in there.

B calls this “smoothie warmed-up,” and let’s me eat it all by myself.

The basic recipe:

2 to 3 cups of berries, frozen work fine
1-2 cups orange juice
1-2 cups yogurt
nutmeg and cinnamon
honey

Mix together (you can cut up/smash the larger berries). The original recipe says to chill before serving. But the first time I ate this soup, it was warm. It was during finals week when I was in college, and I have come to associate it with everything-is-going-to-be-ok-ness.

So I have made it warm since.

I heat everything in a pan. You can serve over fruit, yogurt, ice cream, or eat it plain.

The weather is warming here (39 degrees F!). When I realize that winter is going to end, I start to get sentimental about the cold, snow, and other things I have been complaining about for the last four months. And I start eating soups.

Because when one comes into a room to find a loved one snuggled in a home-made quilt, it warms the heart.

One might then feel inspired to bake.

Breakfast cookies, Small Life version
(two recipes combined, and changed to suit me…please alter to suit you)

A
2 3/4 cups unbleached flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon

B
3/4 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 tsp orange zest (I use orange extract instead, about 1/2 tsp)

C
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract

D
1 cup finely grated carrots (peel them first, if you like)
1 apple, grated (peel first)
1 cup dried cranberries (the original recipes used raisins)
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts

Pre-heat your oven (350 degrees F). Ready your baking sheets (parchment paper, oil, whatever you like).

Combine all A ingredients in a bowl.

All B ingredients get mixed together in a separate big bowl (in a mixing bowl or with the mightiness of your arm). Then add C ingredients to B. Then add D ingredients to BC. Lastly, add A mixture to BCD, mixing just until incorporated. The dough will be soft and sticky.

Using a measuring cup or large spoon (you’re looking for about 1/4 cup), scoop small mounds of dough to your (prepared) baking sheet(s). Space the mounds about 2 1/2 inches apart. Bake one sheet at a time, for about 20-25 minutes. Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet another 5-10 minutes, just to make sure they’re done in the middle.

They are cake-like and quite good on a Sunday.

the solution: This is a chair pocket.

the problem: B needed a place to unload his wallet, glasses, pens, etc. when he comes in/takes off his shoes.

the initial solution: Get rid of the chair and buy a small bench at a thrift store. Put a big bowl on one side of the bench (for stuff) and use the other half for a taking-off-shoes perch.

the area in question

the problem with the initial solution: Do we really need/want any more (even small) furniture?

the insight: It was all B.

the remaining concern: Will muslin be strong enough to hold everything?

the front, unfolded

the back, unfolded

Using the technique for neat corners from the Purl Bee

This year my brain is seasonally ahead of reality. It is now February: I’m not making soup, I’m eating (refrigerated) salad. I’m not knitting scarves, I’m whipping up dresses (which I won’t be able to wear for another four months).

I don’t know why this is.

But a visit to our local Conservatory sure isn’t tipping the scales.

And back outside

I have the dress.

All I need is a shepherd’s crook and I’ll be set.

I’m not sure why I can’t seem to sew anything seasonally appropriate at the moment. But there it is. Take-the-photo-quick-and-get-back-into-warm-clothes, that’s the order of the day.

The pattern I used was Vogue 2940, with the requisite Small Life deviations.

lining

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