Friday, May 30, 2008

Hello cloth napkins, goodbye paper napkins

As part of my 101 goals for the next 2 1/2 years, a.k.a. 101 things in 1001 days, I made 2 pairs of kid-sized cloth napkins this morning while Em and Ro were exploring nature in the backyard.

Personal goal #87 is to "Convert to a greener household. No paper towels or napkins, greener cleansers." While I still have paper napkins, I am prepping for the conversion.

The four napkins are perfectly sized for my toddler's laps at 14" squared. Typical adult napkins are between 18-20 inches. I found this wonderful 3 little pigs themed cotton/linen blend fabric at Superbuzzy and ran to their warehouse to pick it up. (Side note, that place is super awesome and addictive and Kelly is such fun to talk to!) Since these napkins only took up 3/4 of a yard, I have enough fabric left over to make a few kitchen towels (and maybe a treasure pouch for each kid) and will post them when they're done. Considering how much cloth napkins cost to purchase, the hour or so of love and effort is well worth it... and, having a silly kid theme will hopefully ensure that they are used by my boys!

Today, we'll be continuing the piggy theme by reading the True story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka... silly and smart-aleck author of The Stinky Cheese Man. Perhaps we'll make piggy puppets with paper bags as well. I feel like saying "This blog was brought to you by the letter P!" Silly me.
Tonight's dinner will include Bar-B-Qued pork from one of my favorite cookbooks, The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen by Grace Young. Sauteed carrots, jasmine rice and brownies will round out the evening. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

My Previous Job

So, people have often asked me, "what did you do before children?"

I often ask myself that same question! The quickest answer I can give is that I worked at The Anderson School at UCLA in the Laptop Support Office... first as a tech and then as the office manager. I attended and spoke at conferences, went to workshops, became Dell and IBM laptop certified, hired/fired students... I can't even remember much of it all now that I've been out for 3 years. Our office handled the hardware and software repair of 1500+ laptops of all shapes and sizes for the MBA, FEMBA and EMBA and Exchange students who attended the business school.

I've been yelled at, been thanked profusely, worked 18 hour shifts during summer-training-sessions-from-hell, crawled in a plenum to rewire a lab, re cabled a building, intimidated students into buying what I wanted them to buy (IBM/Lenovo vs. Dell for example... IBM will ALWAYS win), and met some very wonderful people dedicated to the betterment (is that a word?) of all those with a desire to learn.

I made funny training videos like this one on what to do if you spill something on your laptop... a once a week occurrence for MBA students.

I never expected to work in technology, but I enjoyed being on the cutting edge of things and always in the know. In the end though, the job really got to me and we figured out a way for me to stay home with my wee one (now wee ones)... now, I let my hubby deal with the technical stuff while I craft and homeschool and read and bake and figure out what kind of job I will eventually return to.

I'm lucky and grateful and to live this way!

Monday, May 26, 2008

Cherry Walnut Bread


I make this sweet dessert bread every Christmas holiday as it has traditionally been served at my in-law's Christmas Eve gathering for as long as I can remember. The recipe has been handed down to me from my Mother-in-Law... it was her mother's recipe. The above picture is the only one I have out of all the years I've been making the bread-- a teensy clip from this bigger pic of making truffles or fudge during my big baking weekend...


Oddly enough, the beloved bread has never made an appearance in any of the Xmas eve buffet pictures because it's gone before the pics are even taken-- that's how much my hubby's family loves it!! I personally don't eat it, but I make it for those who remember Grandma Doris' tradition and enjoy and savor it as a holiday treat.

So why am I putting this holiday recipe up now in the middle of the year? Well, with cherry season upon us... why not indulge in a little sugary goodness a little early? The recipe is super fast to throw together and you can make multiple batches to freeze or gift if you like.

Grandma Doris' Cherry Walnut Bread
Makes 2 loaves, 10 big or 20 half slices each loaf
Ingredients
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 teaspoons (1 tablespoon) baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 16 oz. jar of maraschino cherries, pitted and de-stemmed WITH the juice
  • 1 1/2 cups walnut pieces
Directions
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees
  • Butter bottom and sides of 2 standard loaf pans. I've used both glass and metal without problems.
  • Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Set aside.
  • Combine cherries, cherry juice, walnuts and beaten eggs together.
  • Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients until it looks like a sweet, gooey, pink mess.
  • Pour half into each pan and bake side by side for 1 hour, turning at 30 minutes. You will know that the bread is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. One year, it took me 1 hour and 20 minutes... it just seems to depend on the cherry juice I think. The low temperature does make it take a while, but the bread is sweet and moist as a result.

If you make this, please let me know what you think! Other recipes can be found by hitting the "Recipes" link to the right under "What am I talking about?". If you want other recipes, just email me or leave a comment with a recipe request. Happy baking!

Sunday, May 25, 2008

How-to make freezer paper stenciled t-shirts

I made a fast tutorial on how to make t-shirts using freezer paper stencils!



1- Gather together all the supplies you'll need: Freezer Paper, Self-Healing Mat, X-acto knife, stencil image, fabric paint, disposable cup and the t-shirt. I have a sharpie that I fattened the lines of the guitar stencil with. You can also make your own stencil out of pretty much any image.

2- Tape the freezer paper, shiny side down for the same version, or shiny side up for the reverse image on top of the image you want. The guitar on the left is taped to a self-healing mat to protect the cutting surface (a.k.a. my table).
2a. (Not Shown)- Cut out the stencil onto the freezer paper by cutting out the image underneath with an x-acto knife. Just like when carving a pumpkin, cut out the smallest pieces or more complicated pieces first. When done, keep the image for reference. Your freezer paper stencil is now ready to use!

3- Using a super hot iron without steam, iron the stencil on, shiny side down. Be sure to also use a piece of freezer paper on the inside of the shirt, shiny side facing up to the front piece of the shirt. This will ensure that the paint does not bleed through to the back.

4- I use an up and down motion like a sewing needle to stencil. Repeat process if you see anywhere you did not cover properly.

5- After waiting about 4 hours, gently peel away the stencil. Be absolutely sure that the paint is dry before doing this so that the paint does not peel away with the freezer paper. Wait longer if necessary.

6- Take a fresh sheet of freezer paper that is the size of your newly stenciled shirt. With the shiny side of the paper facing the shirt, use an iron on the cotton setting, but without steam, to set in the painted stencil. Gently glide the iron over the stencil for about 10 seconds to help all the painted edges seal. Wait another 10 seconds to cool and slowly peel the paper off. The paint is already set into the fabric of the shirt, so it will not transfer onto the paper.

7- The finished shirt! Do the happy dance, you're done!

8- Care instructions. I include these instructions for the gift recipient. If you can't read the teeny photo, it says: Turn shirt inside out to wash. Use warm or cool water. Tumble dry low. SIDENOTE: I have bleached these shirts before and the color will fade faster over time than if you don't bleach them.

Please feel free to submit a comment with any questions!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Favorites for a quick dinner

1- Leerdammers Swiss cheese from Holland. I originally fell in love with this cheese when visiting my mom in Massachusetts. There is this super awesome cheese shop there named Wasik's. Every trip back East, I would make my customary visit to the shop and buy this yummy cheese-- even bringing it home on the plane with me once. For years, I looked everywhere on the West coast for this cheese and it finally showed up a year or two ago... a wonderful indulgence!
2- Organic apples from Trader Joe's. Cool, sweet and crispy. Mmmm.
3- Everything bagel chips from Trader Joe's. Crunchy and slightly salty and the perfect accompaniment for #4.
4- Tuna fish! When I worked outside the home, I'd stop by Gelson's deli every once in a while and indulge in their tuna. I finally made my own creamy version at home... and here it is.

Yummy Yummy Tuna Fish (serves 2 adults, 2 children)
2 cans of tuna, I use water packed
1/4 cup real mayonnaise
1 1/2 tbsp. crushed dill
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. white pepper
1 1/2 tbsp. yellow or dijon mustard
1 1/2 tbsp. parsley
1 1/2 tbsp. chives
1 1/2 tbsp. minced onion (or more/less to taste)

Combine dill, salt, pepper, parsley, chives and onion. Set aside
Combine mayonnaise and mustard in a medium bowl. Add dry ingredients.
Add tuna and mash with a fork until it is super creamy.
Cover and let sit in fridge for ten minutes before serving for best flavor.

This tuna is also perfect for tuna melts or wee cucumber sandwiches. I personally love it best on lightly toasted sourdough with thin cucumbers and carrot sticks on the side.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Breakfast

What would you eat if you didn't already have a set palette?
What if your parents said "Sure!" to whatever food concoction you came up with? Would you look at food differently?

How about a cream cheese and strawberry sandwich using the heel of a loaf of white bread?


SURE Em, whatever you'd like!

Monday, May 19, 2008

101 in 1001

In a little less than two weeks, I will begin my 101 in 1001 challenge. This will be a separate blog with 101 things I personally want to accomplish in 1001 days... all are things I personally feel the need to challenge myself to do. And the rewards are personal as well. Thanks Steph for blogging about it!!

There will always be a link to this new blog on the side bar. As I finish or go through some of these tasks, I'll blog about them here and there. If you would like more information about 101 in 1001, it is a project that begun (I believe) in 2003 and has voluntary participants all over the world. You can read other peoples' lists from the 101 in 1001 project home page.

Do you have a 101 in 1001 list?

Sunday, May 18, 2008

SUNday

Just a quick hello. It's been in the triple digits here for the past few days, so Em and Ro have been making great use of their new little pool to keep cool. I sit and crochet under the umbrella so that I don't pass out while observing their fun.
When they're done for the morning and their skin is "all raisiny", we come inside for lunch and a quick rest. Then, the water from the pool is recycled onto the plants around the house. I talked about a similar tip a little while ago, and it makes me feel better knowing the water is being reused to nurture our little annuals and perennials. Hope your day is going well!

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Handmade with love: Guitars and Purses

I like to give homemade gifts... baked goods, crocheted items, sewn goodness, crafted stuff of all sorts. These gifts are always from the heart and personalized to each individual. And, this kind of "value" as I'd like to call it, is something I am trying to pass on through Em and Ro.

Today, my Dad, also known as PaPa-with-the-beard to the boys, is coming over for a birthday lunch-- he turned 64 this week. I just wrote about him and his peanut butter sandwich obsession. His wants are simple-- to spend time with my brother and I, to play his newest guitar songs, to be with his grandsons. Oh, and a peanut butter sandwich on sourdough with cold club soda on the side.

So for his birthday, we went back to our fun freezer paper stenciling techniques that work so well and made him a shirt with his favorite acoustic guitar on it. I enlarged the .jpeg to an 11x14 size of paper to cover the larger size of the shirt and chose a color shirt that will match his eyes perfectly! After making the shirt, Em made him some wrapping paper with balloons and a cake on it, then a fun little card using PaPa's favorite colors, and we wrapped it up. I know my Dad will enjoy wearing it while playing his guitar!


Now that that project has been completed, I have a Purse Project to get on to. The current challenge is to make a bag with t-shirts... something I have PLENTY of with two growing boys in the house. With Em getting out and about now, and having his first sleep-over with Auntie Jenn, I realized he needs a cute little overnight bag to take his bear and books and crayons in... oh and his PJ's of course! I'll put up pics of the bag as I work on it. If you'd like to participate, just visit the link and take a look around at all the cool bags and helpful how-to's that Barb puts up. This will be my first challenge and I'm very excited to get started on it!

Friday, May 16, 2008

Little Tidbits of Joy

I was looking at a cool picture of and subsequent blog that Woof Nanny put up today on the simple joys of food and family. The picture she had up was a vintage cookbook "recipe" for sugar toast... something I personally don't want to try, but something that has been enjoyed by my hubby's family and something he now makes for no special reason whatsoever for our munchkins.

And it made me think of things I do with my boys now... baking with Em. Letting Ro make a giant mess with his food rather than keep him all tidy and glop-free. It's fun! It's memorable! And it's important - tactile learning at its' best!!

Yes, we're "those people" who lick the spatulas!

Yep, we also eat cookie dough and cake batter!! (I know where my eggs come from before you shudder...)

I let Em join in now and then and the gooey mess he makes makes us laugh and run for the camera.

I make cookies and breads and fun treats for no reason at all. And then I give them away to neighbors to enjoy as well. A spontaneous treat for whomever comes across my path.

We lick the ice cream bowls clean. In fact, the one and only time I ever make a run to McDonalds is for an ice cream sundae. No Happy Meals for us... just happy hot fudge and soft serve ice cream.

We make pleasureful noises when the food is good. Any food. From a gooey homemade enchilada to an expensive restaurant meal.

These little moments of relaxation together are very important, handed down traditions on both sides of our family. From sugar toast to s'mores... hot dogs over a campfire... hot chocolate by the fireplace... some of our best moments were created during a family meal - wherever it took place.

Yes, those once a year eating fests are great, but the best times are around the table with just us. Laughing and sharing. Creating memories and new traditions that I hope my boys will pass along.

Got a baby in the house? Try our pear bread.
Cookies my hubby's officer affectionately refers to as "crack" are available.
Lickable Basque Cake anyone?
Rob's grandfather's recipe... Persimmon cookies.

I need to put up more recipes! We enjoy our kitchen and being around a table together so much that I should write about that more.
Thanks Barb for the blog inspiration!!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

A Peanut Butter Sandwich

Someday I will write about my mild obsession (I'd call it mild, my hubby wouldn't) with books. My love of books began very early... like at birth! And so I have kept my books and love of reading to pass on to my children.

Reading to my boys is always a fantastic time for me. I use different voices and faces - different accents and shouts and whispers - I am a one woman three ring circus of reading enjoyment! (Probably a holdover from high school drama and speech competitions.) We read everything... and with April having been National Poetry Month, we added reading several poems each night before our books. (Yes, this is a super late blog to be writing about April's poetry month in the middle of May-- sorry 'bout that.)


So one night, I was reading to Em and flipping through one of my favorite poetry books as a kid-- and I come to the "Peanut-Butter Sandwich" poem by Shel Silverstein. Immediately I flash back to 3rd grade with Miss Palai and what I remember to be my very first speaking engagement! I chose to do this very poem because my dad is obsessed with peanut butter sandwiches. If you click on the picture of the book above, you can actually see my writing (I know, bad girl for writing in books, but hey I was 9) of how I handled the poem... speaking fast here, making faces there. And I guess my mom timed me that I read the poem in 1 minute and 55 seconds.


Back to the present... Em is listening to me, with giant wide eyes and slightly rapid breathing as I tell about the "silly young king" and his peanut-butter sandwich dilemma. I am loving it! He's hooked in and I am so happy he's loving it too! The poem ended with him finishing the last line and a big guffaw laugh and "AGAIN Momma, read it AGAIN!!!" It really is a great poem.


If you like reading to your children and would like to be more animated, Mem Fox has a wonderful book called Reading Magic and her site gives some commandments to follow to help your child learn to love and appreciate reading also. Mem Fox is the author of that one book that every parent I know seems to have and love and memorize in their child's' baby and toddler years... "It's time for bed little mouse little mouse, darkness in falling all over the house..."


If you have Where the Sidewalk Ends, try reading the peanut-butter poem and also "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take The Garbage Out" aloud. It is a tongue twisting fun!

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Homemade Bath Salts for Mother's Day

A quick craft your kids can make for the special women in their lives! (Green week on Unplug Your Kids!!!)

1- Pulse Epsom Salts 6 - 10 times so grains are still big but not gigantic
2- Add vitamin E oil, dried melon and cucumber, then natural dye and fragrance
3- Pulse another 6 - 10 times to combine
4- Clean glass containers with alcohol and then fill with mixture
5- Affix super cute custom labels
6- Add ribbon and wrap!

(Click on the picture for larger viewing)

I found many recipes very easily for scrubs, bath salts... all kinds of pampering goodies.

The labeling and container can be as easy or as complex as you want to make it. Ingredients are readily available at hobby and drug stores (Epsom salts are MUCH cheaper at a drug store!) and the scents you use can be pretty much anything you can imagine.