I'm developing a quilt pattern to teach paper piecing skills. Here is "Hut Hut", a simple paper pieced block, 8". It and it's reflection will make a cute little wall hanging. Am trying to decide if I want to control the colors a bit. Will make a couple more blocks to see how it looks.

After Thanksgiving Food Report

Lots of new recipes made their way into the kitchen this week. Here's the menu:

Rachel Ray's Roast Turkey Breast (with some modifications)
Corn Bread Stuffing with Chorizo
Slow Cooker Southern style green beans
Sweet Potato and Apple bake
Apple cider gravy
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Cheesecake/pumpkin/pecan pie
Crispy Creme Bread Pudding!
Multi Grain Bread Rolls from Bon Appetit 11/09

Here are Hubby and I with our beautifully browned turkey breasts.


p.s. Credit to #1 son + girlfriend for the yummy desserts :)

Teaching is Fun!

Well, that was a first for me - I taught "Intro to Machine Applique" at a quilt store in Buford, GA called Georgia Sewing and Quilting. There were three students, and one was a guy! It was so much fun. The students were all accomplished sewers who wanted to brush up on machine applique skills. They could have taught me a thing or two!

Only one item of culinary news this week:  Made a roasted pork tenderloin with herbs and garlic. Started by browning it in a pan, then finishing in the oven. Deglazed the pan with white wine and then stirred in some Hoisin Sauce. The combo of hot and slightly sweet was delicious.

Planning the Thanksgiving menu. Hubby wants turkey, Son #2 wants stuffing...it's looking too traditional for me. Will have to come up with something to raise it into the "intersting" category. More to follow...

No boring chicken this night!

Defrosted chix breasts awaited some magic transformation into dinner. Don't you sometimes just get tired of chix breasts? It's a good thing they provide lean, high quality protein, or I would have forsaken them long ago. We seasoned them with fajita seasoning, but still, the meal needed something to make it more intersting. Hadn't had rice for a while - maybe a pilaf of some sort? Light bulb moment! Fajitas = Mexican.

So here is my version of Spanish Rice.


Spanish Rice
Serves 4 normal eaters.

In 1 Tablespoon olive oil, saute 1/2 diced onion, 1 clove garlic till fragrant. Add 1 cup dry rice and stir till coated. Add one chopped tomato, salt and freshly ground black pepper (aka fgbp) to taste, a good pinch each of cumin and oregano and two cups water. Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer till rice is done.

Less sodium and cheaper than the box variety.

Very cute idea for spagetti and hot dogs

Here's what they look like

and here's where to find the recipe:
Spagetti dogs

Delicious 12 layer dip

I must be one of a handful of Americans who doesn't like sour cream. But, I do love plain yogurt. Yesterday while ripping the top off a new tub of Dannon Fat Free Plain, I noticed a recipe for this dip. Made with yogurt. Not sour cream.

Well, there's no time like the present to try a new recipe! It struck me that yogurt is runnier than sour cream, so I decided to strain the yogurt for a while to thicken it up. While that was happening, made a quick trip to Publix for the olives and refried beans.

The dip was delicious, and to save you the trouble of looking up the recipe, here it is:

2 1/2 cups ff plain yogurt, poured into a cheesecloth lined strainer and left for a couple of hours.
1 cup each sliced olives, shredded sharp cheddar, finely shredded lettuce, chunky salsa
1 can refried beans.

Mix beans with 1/3 cup salsa. Then layer in a glass pie plate or other flat dish:
1/2 the bean mixture
1 cup strained yogurt
1/2 cup olives
1/3 cup salsa
1/2 cup lettuce
1/2 cup cheese.
Repeat the layers.
Cover with plastic wrap and chill.

Serve with corn chips.

Lesson learned: Buy More Fabric Than You Think You Need

Especially when you don't have a plan for it yet.

This weekend I finally started working on the sashing for my Hawaiian quilt. I've been working on the applique on and off for several years. Now there are 48 paper pieced sashing pieces to make. 14 are complete and I am wondering whether I will have enough fabric to finish my design. I'm going to sew all the strips together so I can use every last inch from now on.

Last week I paged through an OLD Southern Living cookbook, and found an interesting sounding recipe for Wholewheat Spice Cake. It was delicious - more of a cookie bar than a cake. Ingredients include dates, raisins, cinnamon, honey, pecans and chocolate chips! Now don't you want some?

I forgot the picture! Guess I'll just have to make it again.