happy thanksgiving!

So, you may be wondering why I have not done a single post about Thanksgiving recipes...I am getting off easy this year with regard to cooking...all my mom asked me to bring was a salad!! Of course I will happily help out with the cooking today, just as mom always helps me when Christmas rolls around and it is my turn to do the cooking.

For the salad I decided to use some nice greens from the Farmer's Market, pretty and delicious Fuyu persimmons, spiced pumpkin seeds (see the recipe for spiced nuts here), and chopped pitted dates. For the dressing combine 1 teaspoon of mustard, 2 teaspoons of honey, 3 tablespoons of sherry vinegar, and salt and pepper in a small bowl and whisk to combine. While still whisking, gradually add 5 tablespoons of olive oil. Taste and add another tablespoon of olive oil if you prefer a less acidic dressing. Add more salt and pepper if desired.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

happy accident: oilcloth storage containers

Way back in June 2009 the Purl Bee posted this oilcloth bag pattern and I fell instantly in love. I immediately ordered a few yards of the oilcloth, thinking that I could make the bags as gifts. Well, for some reason, that project fell to the bottom of the list and the oilcloth has sat in its shipping tube under a table for all this time. 

Fast forward to now. One of the projects I have been working on lately is helping with the PS 321 Holiday Shop called STUFF YOU SHOULD BUY. My focus has been reaching out to all the talented people I can think of and asking them to be part of the sale. Then, at one of our planning meetings it occurred to me that there are a lot of people like me who make things, but would never think of themself as a possible vendor. I decided to put together a table of things made by parents (or friends and family) of children at the school. I am gathering donations and will donate the proceeds to the school. 

Of course, this means I need to make some stuff to contribute to the table too! As I was brainstorming I rememebered the gorgeous oilcoth bags. As I set out to make one, I was not paying close enough attention, and cut the fabric in the wrong direction. The last thing I wanted to do was waste the precious oilcloth so I had to figure out how to correct the problem. As I pieced together another strip to compensate for the mistake it changed the proportion of the bag, but somehow I loved it. I decided not to add the handles either. I love it as a storage bin for Bea's doll clothes and stuffed toys. I am not sure I will part with this one...it may have to live here. But I still have lots more oilcloth...so, more bins, and maybe some actual tote bags will be made soon!

decorating with glass and porcelain markers

Last spring I was reading Lotta Jansdotter's blog and noticed this post on porcelain markers. I was intrigued, and I knew that during the month of August Lauren and I would have a house full of kids to entertain, so I so stopped by Pearl Paint and picked up a set of the markers. While there I also saw a similar set to be used on glass and got those too. You can buy the pens individually as well, which is great if you know exactly what you want to do...the pens are quite expensive, $59 for the set. Still, I was not deterred. My kids love to draw, as does Lila, and I felt pretty sure that they would enjoy the idea and possibly even produce some pretty things. The next stop was Ikea for the least expensive white dishes and glasses out there...it is pretty amazing how many things are sold in sets of six for under $10!

Since the pens were expensive, and because I wanted the finished products to work in the house, I decided to art direct, and to have the kids do these projects slowly. I asked them each to make a garden (or flower or tree) when working on the glasses. I thought that would look pretty on the open shelves in the kitchen and would work well mixed in with all of our mismatched vintage juice glasses too.

The bowls I bought are a good size for cereal, a staple in our house. I decided to let the kids have artistic freedom with them and they all did a pretty amazing job!

Since we were drawing around the outside of glasses and bowls I needed to help the kids get set up. We found that fitting a tupperware with a dishtowel made a nice bed for the dishes to sit in -- the towels helped stabilize everything. Also, when drawing on the glass, it was helpful to insert a white piece of paper inside so that you can really see what you are doing. Once you have drawn on the dishes you need to let them dry for 24 hours, and then you bake them to seal the paint. The sales person at Pearl Paint did say that he does not really recommend this for the center of plates where knives and forks are continually abrading the surface.

I think this would also be a great activity for a party, especially with elementary school age kids. The finished product can be the party favor too but you will have to deliver it after the party ends unless you are having a 24 hour affair! 

scalloped potatoes (sometimes with ham)

For the most part I cook without a recipe. Of course there are exceptions -- like most cooks, I use recipes when baking and the amounts need to be precise. But when it comes to savory food I am much more likely to wing it, or to look at a recipe for an idea but not actually follow the exact amounts, or the exact ingredients or instructions. There is inevitably some thing I do not have, or some part I think might be better or easier another way. For this reason, this potato gratin recipe from Epicurious really stands out for me. It is perfect! I have made it enough times that you would think I would have abandoned the recipe long ago but I want it to be exactly as written every time for fear that it won't be as good if I mess with it. It has become a traditional part of our family's holiday meals...hope you like it as much as I do!

P.S. There is one variation that I have tried: Add a few layers of sliced ham between the potatoes and you can convert this delicious side dish into a meal of its own.

style: jenny belin

  

I recently went to visit my friend Jenny Belin at Brooklyn Collective, which she has been part of since the spring of 2008. Brooklyn Collective is a cooperative started by Rachel Goldberg and Tessa Phillips which gives artists and crafts people a unique space where they can show and sell their work while enjoying creative freedom.  Rachel and Tessa also have a studio space in the back of the showroom which is available for Jenny to use while working in the shop. When Lauren and I arrived Jenny had many of her paintings spread out on a large table and she was busily selecting works for a special edition of prints that are scheduled to be sold on Fab.com on November 19, 20, and 21. 

Jenny's favorite subjects are people and animals, and she paints really lovely portraits of both. I find her work to be both whimsical and feminine, without being "too sweet". She does other things too...Adam bought me a wonderful painting of a pink airplane which also incorprates elements of collage...it is fantastic and hangs in our tv room. 

I asked Jenny to consider selling her work at the PS 321 Holiday Shop this year and was thrilled when she agreed. Her small paintings of animals are perfect decorations for children's rooms. She is also available for commissions and has done many many pet portraits over the years. If you would like to see her work please come to the sale on December 10th and stop by her table. You may also contact her directly here.

spiced nuts

Spiced nuts are a great addition to simple salads. They add crunch and flavor making an otherwise ordinary bowl of greens special. I've used many nuts over the years including almonds, pecans, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds. I find that honey in a squeeze bottle, like the honey bears you can find everywhere, work best for this since you can drizzle it a little bit at a time. You barely need any...adding too much will make the coating gloppy.

Combine 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, 1/4 teaspoon cumin, 1/4 teaspoon corriander, and a pinch of cayenne in a small bowl. Place nuts on a sheet pan and toast in a 350° oven for about 10 minutes, or until the nuts are lightly browned and fragrant. Immediately transfer the hot nuts to a metal bowl and drizzle with a little honey. Toss to combine--the nuts should all be shiny, but not heavily coated. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the nuts and toss again until all the nuts are coated. Set aside to cool completely before using.

duck tape canoe

Oliver is inspired to create things by everything he sees. Recently I was working on a project with my friend Jodi that involved duck tape and cardboard. Oliver was watching and wanting to "help" but it was not really something I could include him in at that exact moment. A minute or two passed and then he asked if he could also use some duck tape and a toilet paper roll. I agreed, and suggested that he use the leopard print tape he had begged me for when we had been shopping at Lowe's. After what seemed like only a moment I heard him calling excitedly from the bathroom, "It works mom! It floats!" When I went to see what he was talking about he had made this amazing little boat and was testing it in the bathroom sink. We filled a bowl of water and he set to work making an armada...it was particularly fun to see that not only was he testing his imagination and crafting skills, but also doing a little science project.

happy birthday, sweet bea

My sweet little girl is 5 today. Last weekend she had her very first sleepover party with her cousin Lila and 2 very special friends. Bea was so excited that she planned the activities and menu months in advance. She probably made invitations at least once a week. Sadly, in this age of email I never mailed any of them! And then, on the morning of her party, she made this schedule:

 

For those of you who don't read "kindergarten" and might need a little help with the translation, it says:

Bea's slumber party

1. play

2. fort

3. nails

4. dinner

5. movie

6. book

Although we did not follow the schedule exactly we did accomplish most of her list and she loved every minute of it! 

chocolate chip mini scones

Popular with all ages, these little scones are a yummy treat fresh from the oven...either for breakfast or as a little snack with tea or coffee. You can make the scones a day ahead and bake them just before serving.

Chocolate Chip Mini Scones

makes about 2 dozen 1 1/2 inch round scones

2 cups all purpose flour, plus more for dusting

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 stick cold unsalted butter, diced

zest of 1 orange

generous half cup mini chocolate chips (I prefer dark chocolate)

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 egg yolk

milk for brushing tops

Preheat oven to 400°. Sift together the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add butter and orange zest and mix in using your fingertips until the mixture is crumbly and the butter pieces are a quite small. Combine buttermilk and egg yolk and beat with a fork to break yolk. Pour over flour mixture and stir with a fork until all the flour has been incorporated but the dough is still crumbly. Stir in chocolate chips and turn out onto a lightly floured surface and pat into an oval about 1 inch thick. Using a 1 1/2 inch biscuit cutter cut out scones and transfer to a silpat or parchment lined tray.  Brush lightly with milk. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until tops are golden brown.

beef stroganoff

This old fashioned classic is very popular with my kids. I found this recipe in an early issue of Everyday Food and have had it in my recipe binder ever since. It is very quick to make - just be sure not to over cook the meat since it will become tough if you do.